Genevieve! My dear mother!" answered Salome, clasping her hands
and looking up.

The abbess drew a chair to the side of the cot, sat down, and took the
hand of her pupil, saying:

"You have come back to us, my child. I thought you would. You are most
welcome."

"Oh, mother! mother! I am _driven_ back to you for shelter from
a storm of trouble!" exclaimed Salome, in great excitement, her cheeks
burning, and her eyes blazing with the fires of fever.

"We will receive you with love and cherish you in our
hearts--_unquestioned_--for, my child, you are too ill
to give us any explanation now," said the abbess, gently, laying
her soft, cool hand upon the burning brow of the girl.

"Oh! mother, mother, let me talk now and unburden my heavy heart! You
know not how it will relieve me to do so to _you_. I could not do so
to any other. Let me tell you, dear mother, while I may, before it shall
be too late. For I am going to be very ill, mother; and perhaps I may
die! Oh Heaven grant I may be permitted to die!" fervently prayed Salome,
clasping her hands.

"Hush, hush, my poor, unhappy child. I know not what your sorrow has
been, but it cannot possibly justify you in your sinful petition. Life,
my child, is the greatest of boons, since it contains within it the
possibility of eternal bliss. We should be deeply thankful for simple
_life_, whatever may be its present trials, since it holds the
promise of future happiness," said the gentle abbess.

"Oh, mother, my life is wrecked--is hopelessly wrecked!" groaned Salome.

"Nay, nay, only storm-tossed on the treacherous seas of the world. Here
is your harbor, my child. Come into port, little, weary one!" said the
abbess, with a tender, cheerful smile.

"Oh, mother, your wayward pupil has wandered far, far from your
teachings! She has become a heathen--an idolator! Yes, she set up unto
herself an idol, and she worshiped it as a god, until at last, IT
FELL!--IT FELL! AND CRUSHED HER UNDER ITS RUINS!" said Salome,
growing more and more excited and feverish.

"It is well for us, my child, when our earthly idols do fall and crush
us, else we might go on to perdition in our fatal idolatry. Yes, my
child, it is well that your idol has fallen, even though you lie buried
and bleeding under its ruins; for our fraternity, like the good Samaritan
of the parable, will raise you up and dress your wounds, and set you on
your feet again, and lead you in the right path--the path of peace and