If she consults me, I shall tell her so.' 'Thank you.' They parted, and the Mother Superior went back to her room and her work with a steady step and holding her head high.

But she did not even see a lay sister who was scrubbing her small private staircase, and who rose to let her pass, saluting her as she went by.
Monsignor Saracinesca left the garden by the glass door that opened into the large hall, already described, and he went out past the portress's little lodge.

She was just opening the outer door when he came up with her, and the next moment he found himself face to face with Madame Bernard.

He stepped back politely to let her pass, and lifted his hat with a smile of recognition; but instead of advancing she uttered a little cry of surprise and satisfaction, and retreated to let him come out.

He noticed that her face betrayed great excitement, and she seemed hardly able to speak.
'What is the matter ?' he asked kindly, as he emerged from the deep doorway.
The portress was waiting for Madame Bernard to enter, but the Frenchwoman had changed her mind and held up her hand, shaking one forefinger.
'Not to-day, Anna!' she cried.