the money for
the founding of the institution, and it was natural enough that she
should be placed at the head. I have an idea that she would not have
been willing to enter the House except as its head."

"It is about four years since it was established, is it not?" I asked;
and Walkirk assured me that I was correct.

All this information ranged itself on the side of conviction. She was
just the woman to try a thing of this kind for a stated time; she was
just the woman not to like it; and she was just the woman whose soul
could not be prevented from whispering that the gates of the bright
world were opening before her. But why should her soul whisper this to
me? The whole matter troubled me very much.

I determined not to base any action upon what had thus forced itself
upon my mind. I would wait. I would see what would happen next. I would
persist in my determination never to give up Sylvia. And I will mention
that there was a little point in connection with her which at this time
greatly annoyed me: whenever I thought of her, she appeared before me in
the gray dress of a sister, and not as I had seen her on the island. I
wished very much that this were not the case.

XL.

AN INSPIRATION.

I now found myself in an embarrassing situation. All my plans and hopes
of tidings from Sylvia, or of any possible connection with her, were
based upon Mother Anastasia. But would it be wise for me to continue my
very friendly relations with the Mother Superior? On my side these
relations were extremely pleasant, though that did not matter, one way
or another. But would it be kind and just to her to meet with her on the
footing I had enjoyed? In every point of this affair I wished to be
honorable and considerate. Acting on these principles, I went away for
two weeks. It was very hard for me to absent myself for so long a period
from Arden, but it was my duty. To take the chances of another meeting
with Mother Anastasia, following close upon the recent one, which had
made so forcible an impression upon me, would be imprudent. A moderate
absence might be of great advantage.

On my return I took to strolling about the village, especially in the
neighborhood of the House of Martha; and if, in these strolls, I had met
the Mother Superior, I should not have hesitated to accost her and ask
news of Sylvia. For more reasons than one, I felt it was highly
desirable that I should impress it on the mind of Mother Anastasia that