At the appointed time, I was taken on board the boat, watched very closely by the two men who had me in charge.  There was need enough of this, for I would very gladly have thrown myself into the water, had I not been prevented.  Once and again I attempted it, but the men held me back.  For this, I am now thankful, but at that time my life appeared of so little importance, and the punishments I knew were in reserve for me seemed so fearful, I voluntarily chose “strangling and death rather than life.”  The captain and sailors were all Romanists, and seemed to vie with each other in making me as unhappy as possible They made sport of my “new fashioned clothing,” and asked if I “did not wish to run away again?” When they found I did not notice them they used the most abusive and scurrilous language, mingled with vulgar and profane expressions, which may not be repeated.  The men who had charge of me, and who should have protected me from such abuse, so far from doing it, joined in the laugh, and appeared to think it a pleasant amusement to ridicule and vex a poor helpless fugitive.  May God forgive them for their cruelty, and in the hour of their greatest need, may they meet with the kindness they refused to me.

At Lachine we changed boats and took another to Montreal.  When we arrived there, three priests were waiting for us.  Their names I perfectly remember, but I am not sure that I can spell them correctly.  Having never learned while in the nunnery, to read, or spell anything except a simple prayer, it is not strange if I do make mistakes, when attempting to give names from memory.  I can only give them as they were pronounced.  They were called Father Kelly, Dow, and Conroy.  All the priests were called father, of whatever age they might be.

As we proceeded from the boat to the Nunnery, one of the priests went before us while the others walked beside me, leading me between them.  People gazed at us as we passed, but they did not dare to insult, or laugh at me, while in such respectable company.  Yet, methinks it must have been a ludicrous sight to witness so much parade for a poor run-a-way nun.

CHAPTER XV.

Choice of punishments.

On our arrival at the Nunnery, I was left alone for half an hour.  Then the Bishop came in with the Lady Superior, and the Abbess who had charge of the kitchen when I left.  The Bishop read to me three punishments of which he said, I could take my choice.  First.—­To fast five days in the fasting room.  Second.—­To suffer punishment in the lime room.  Third.—­To fast four days, in the cell.  As I knew nothing of these places except the cell, a priest was directed to take me to them, that I might see for myself, and then take my choice.  At first, I thought I did not care, and I said I had no choice about it; but when I came to see the rooms, I was thankful that I was not allowed to abide by that decision.  Certainly, I had no idea what was before me.