her mind was obscured, and she seated herself, scarcely knowing what she did, on Laura's grave. She turned her head towards the Asylum, and considered the magnificent walnut-tree which grows in the nuns' garden. "For years and

years thou hast lived, beautiful tree, and seen many carried to the tomb, and wilt see many more-perhaps me and yet thou wilt put forth thy green leaves every spring, as if nothing ever changed. My God, dost Thou care for the trees and not for me!" She sunk on the grave, and there she lay when at seven o'clock Sister Mary of St. Stanislas was looking everywhere for her-it was necessary to tell the Superioress. The good nun entered the community salle, where the evening recreation was in full enjoyment; the new postulant looking the picture of happiness, sitting near the Superioress, an honour she was permitted, because she was newly come. "Ma mère, could you speak with me a minute at the door?" said Sister Mary of St. Stanislas, approaching the Reverend Mother, and speaking in a low tone. The Superioress rose and left the room, and every one rose also, the usual mark of respect whenever the Superioress moved from her seat, but the recreation

went on cheerfully so soon as the door closed: they were used to little confidential whispers, when anything was the matter in the other house, but the peace of soul of no one was disturbed thereby; and as those only immediately charged with the penitents were in general aware of the circumstances which sometimes, as in this instance, required an especial communication with the Superioress, so no one troubled themselves to make inquiries on the cause of the Reverend Mother's being sometimes called out by the mistresses of the class. A few words explained Sister Mary of St. Stanislas's trouble, and she accused herself of having perhaps been to blame in neglecting to lock the door which led from the penitents' to the religious' garden. The Reverend Mother spoke to a passing Tourière-"You are not afraid to go down the garden with Sister Mary of St. Stanislas ?" "Not I, Mother Superior; I'm afraid of nothing but sin, may the Lord preserve us from all evil!" and the sturdy Irish-woman rose, procured a lantern, and went off with Sister Mary of St. Stanislas. The moon was rising as they approached the burying-ground, and even Mary Bridget the Tourière felt a sort of thrill pass through her, and she made

the sign of the cross, as by the mysterious light of the moon they discovered the form of Jemima in the distance: at first they only saw the white cap and handkerchief; it was certainly on the very spot where the deceased penitent had been buried, and though neither of the courageous women stopped a moment, it was startling and shocking in that solitary spot to see a human form, prostrate in its grief and agony. To raise the almost unconscious Jemima, to half support, half carry her into the penitents' infirmary, was the work of a few minutes, and then Mary Bridget returned to the community salle to let the Reverend Mother know what they had done, and the Reverend Mother again left the community recreation to repair to the bedside of the sufferer. How are you, my poor child ?" she said kindly to Jemima. "Pray for me, Mother Superior," was the reply, "for I shall not be long in this world,” and these were the last conscious words which Jemima spoke for some hours. The Superioress, accustomed to the violence of such scenes and their passing nature, replied cheerfully, "Oh! yes you will, my dear child, and learn to be wise and good. It was very imprudent to sit on the damp grass-how your teeth chatter, you make mine

66

ache-" but Jemima could not smile even, so benumbed was she with cold, and so overpowered with the want of rest the night beforeher recent agitation,-and the death-blow to all her hopes. She no longer thought of leaving the house, for, unconsciously to herself, this had only been in the hope of rejoining Lord Henry Greenwood, and she sank on the soft pillow with a stupid feeling of desolation. A very hot footbath and other remedies restored circulation, but as the trembling of her limbs ceased, her mind began to wander, and before Sister Mary of St. Austin, the charitable infirmarian of the penitents, could apply all the means the Superioress suggested as likely to do her good, she was muttering to herself the usual incoherencies of a person who is light-headed from fever. "I was right to bring her to the infirmary, was I not, ma mère?" said Sister Mary of St. Stanislas. "I did not wait to send for your permission, but took your intention in the hurry of the moment." "You did quite right, my dear sister for I should not like the children to see her as she is now; but now go and disengage Sister Mary of St. Aloysius, she has not yet had her supper. Sister Mary of St. Austin

the sight of the teas by the mysterious light of

severed the form of Jemima

atst they only saw the white aan banchete; it was certainly on the

spa Vieme, the deceased penitent had been bea wa ter neither of the courageous women moped a ment, it was startling and sheking a thất sotary spot to see a human BIL POSTA: IL as grief and agony. To raise the kinot my estivas Jemima, to half support, bat ca te ant the penitents' infirmary, was the week od a few minutes, and then Mary Bridget WILTILA the Ny salle to let the Reverend N” cher an ow what they had done, and the Reverend A cher again kâ the community recreation to mgur u the bedside of the sufferer. “How are * L Ty pour child " she said kindly to Jemima. •Fyfe me. Mother Superior." was the reply, -års not be long in this world,” and these Were the last conscious words which Jemima spoke for some hours. The Superioress, accuszamed to the violence of such scenes and their pussing nature, replied cheerfully, "Oh! yes you wil my dear child, and learn to be wise and god. It was very imprudent to sit on the damp miss-bow your teeth chatter, you make mine