As you may remember, my lord, the ground upon the other side of the building is on a lower level than the cloister lawn.

The windows of the Reverend Mother's cell are therefore raised above the shrubbery and it is not possible to see into the chamber.

But Sister Mary Rebecca, who went round after dark, noted that the Reverend Mother had lighted her tapers and drawn her curtains.
This morning the light is extinguished, the curtains are drawn back, and the casement flung open.

Moreover at the usual hour for rising, the Reverend Mother rang the bell, as is her custom, to waken the nuns--rang it from within her cell, by means of this rope and pulley." "Ah," said the Bishop.
"Sister Abigail, up already, thereupon ran to the Reverend Mother's cell; and, the bell still swinging, tapped and asked if she might bring in milk and bread.

Once more the only answer was the low chanting of prayers.