I am on duty.' He noticed the muffled tone and the slowness of her speech.

She sat facing him, on the other side of the plain table, her open report-book before her.
'You will not blame the Mother Superior for sending me, Sister.

She is in the deepest distress for you.

You must have seen that, when you spoke with her this morning.' 'She was more than kind.' Monsignor Saracinesca sighed, but the nun did not notice it.

Now that she knew why he had come, she needed all her strength and courage again.
He went on quietly with his short explanation.