tterance that had seemed to her afterwards! How devoid of the
true spirit of the religious, how hateful, petty, profane! But the great
lady had been greatly struck by it, and had gone about quoting the words
everywhere. She, who had spoken them, repented them with tears, and set
the memory of them between her and ill-considered, worldly speech, for
ever.

She wrote on now:

_"She has no vocation for the life of a religious. I doubt
her being happy or successful as a teacher here, were I
removed from my post by supreme earthly authority, or by
death, either contingency being the expression of the Will
of God. She has a reserved, sensitive nature, quick to feel,
and eager to hide what she feels, indifferent to praise or
popularity among the many, anxiously desirous to please,
passionately devoted where she gives her love...."_

The firm mouth quivered, and a mist stole before her eyes. Being human,
she took the handkerchief that lay amongst her papers and wiped the
crowding tears away, and went on:

_"I could wish, in anticipation of either eventuality named,
that provision might now be made for her. Those who love
me--yourself I know to be among the number--will not, I feel
assured, be indifferent to my wish that she should be placed
beyond the reach of want."_

She wrote on, knowing that the implied wish would be observed as a
command:

_"We have never been able to trace any persons who might
have been her parents--we have never even known her real
name.--Those among whom her childhood was spent called her
by none. As you know, I gave her in Holy Baptism one that
was our dear dead mother's, together with the surname of a
lost friend. She is, and must be always, known as Lynette
Mildare."_

Her eyes were tearless, and her hand quite steady as she continued:

_"You must not be at all alarmed or shaken by this letter. I
am perfectly well in health, be quite assured; I trust I may
be spared to carry on my work here for many long years to
come. But in case it should be otherwise, I write thus:_

_"The country is greatly disturbed, in spite of the
reassuring reports that have been disseminated by the Home
Authorities. I do not, and cannot, imagine what the official
view may be in London at this moment, but it is certain that
the Transvaal and Free State are preparing for war. Every
hour the enm