This mandate is drawn up entirely along the lines of my suggestion, owing to my influence with His Holiness, and based upon particulars furnished by me.

Now let me read to you the private letter from the Holy Father to myself, giving further important conditions." The Bishop drew forth and unfolded the letter from Rome, and very slowly, that each syllable might carry weight, he read it aloud.
As the gracious and kindly words fell upon the Prioress's ear, commanding that no undue pressure should be brought to bear upon her, and insisting that it must be entirely by her own wish, if she resigned her office and availed herself of this dispensation from her vows, she felt humbled to the dust at thought of her own violence, and of the injustice of her angry words.
Her weeping became so heartbroken, that the Bishop again laid his left hand, with kindly comforting touch, upon her bowed head.
As he read the Pope's most particular injunctions as to the manner in which she must leave the Nunnery and take her place in the world once more, so as to prevent any public scandal, she fell silent from sheer astonishment, holding her breath to listen to the final clause empowering the Bishop to announce within the Convent, when her absence became known, that she had been moved on by him, secretly, with the knowledge and approval of the Pope, to a place where she was required for higher service.
"Higher service," said the Prioress, her face still hidden.

"_Higher_ service?
Can it be that the Holy Father really speaks of the return to earthly love and marriage, the pleasures of the world, and the joys of home life, as 'higher service' ?" The grief, the utter disillusion, the dismayed question in her tone, moved the Bishop to compunction.
"Mine was the phrase, to begin with, my daughter," he admitted.

"I used it to the Holy Father, and I confess that, in using it, I did mean to convey that which, as you well know.

I have long believed, that wifehood and motherhood, if worthily performed, may rank higher in the Divine regard than vows of celibacy.