places, or meeting us on public occasions."

"That is very true, my child; but you need have no fear of being
recognized by the officiating priest to-morrow, whoever he may be, for
you will sit with us behind the screen."

"Thanks, dear mother; I will go with you this very evening."

"You are a good and obedient child. Receive my benediction," said the
mother-superior, rising.

Salome bent her head, and the abbess solemnly blessed her, and then
withdrew from the room.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE SOUL'S STRUGGLE.

That same evening, while the vesper bells were ringing, Salome dressed
herself, and, leaning on the arm of the mother-superior headed the
procession of the sisterhood as they marched to the chapel and took their
seats in the recess behind the screen, which was so cunningly devised,
that, while it afforded the nuns a full view of the altar, the priests,
the interior of the pews and the whole congregation, it effectually
concealed the forms and faces of the sisterhood seated within it.

Father Francois, the confessor of the convent, officiated at the altar.

A rustic congregation of the faithful filled the pews in the body of
the church. They came from farm-houses and villages in the immediate
neighborhood of the convent.

The vesper hymn was raised by the nuns.

Salome joined in singing it. She had a rich, sweet, clear soprano voice.

Many were the heads in the rustic assemblage that turned to listen to the
new singer in the nuns' choir.

Salome saw them, and shrank back as if she herself could have been seen,
though she was quite invisible to them, for the screen, which was
transparent to her eyes, was impenetrable to theirs. She remembered this,
at length, and recovered her composure.

The sweet vesper service soothed her soul, and when it was over, and the
benediction was given, the "peace that passeth all understanding"
descended upon her troubled spirit.

She left the chapel, leaning on the mother-superior's arm.

When she reached her room door she kissed the lady's hand in bidding her
good-night.

"This has done you good, my daughter," said the abbess, gently.

"It has done me good. Thanks for your wise counsel, holy mother. I will
follow it still. I will go again tomorrow. Bless me, my mother," said
Salome, bowing her head before the abbess, who blessed her again, and
then softly withdrew.

Salome entered her room and retired to rest, and slept more calmly than
she had done for m