on with themselves they could not even think about.
This point made an impression on Mother Anastasia, and, having thought
about it a minute or two, she said there was a certain force in it.

"Then she asked me if this narrative of yours was a strongly accentuated
love-story. Here she had me at a disadvantage, for I have not heard it;
but I assured her that, knowing the scope and purpose of your work, I
did not believe that you would accentuate any portion of it more than
was absolutely necessary.

"After some silent consideration, Mother Anastasia said she would go and
speak with the sister who had been doing your work. She was gone a good
while,--at least it seemed so to me; and when she came back she said
that she had been making inquiries of the sister, and had come to the
conclusion that there was no good reason why the House of Martha should
not continue to assist you in the preparation of your book."

"Did she say she would send the same sister?" I asked quickly.

"No, she did not," answered Walkirk; "but not wishing to put the
question too pointedly, I first thanked her, on your behalf, for the
kindly consideration she had given the matter. I then remarked--without
intimating that you said anything about it--that I hoped nothing would
occur to retard the progress of the work, and that the present
arrangement might continue without changes of any kind, because I knew
that when you were dictating your mind was completely absorbed by your
mental labors, and that any alteration in your hours of work, or the
necessity of explaining your methods to a new amanuensis, annoyed and
impeded you. To this she replied it was quite natural you should not
desire changes, and that everything should go on as before."

"Walkirk," I exclaimed, "you are a trump!" In my exuberant satisfaction
I would have clapped him on the back; but it would not do to be so
familiar with an under-study, and besides I did not wish him to
understand the extent of my delight at the result of his mission. That
sort of thing I liked to keep to myself.

XVIII.

AN ILLEGIBLE WORD.

Every morning there seemed to be some reason or other why I should
anticipate with an animated interest the coming of my secretary, and on
the morning after what I might call her "strike" the animation of said
interest was very apparent to me, but I hope not to any one else. Over
and over I said to myself that I must not let my nun see that I was
greatly pleased