nearly
expired. I do not regret the time I have spent there, but I must admit I
shall be glad to leave the sisterhood. That life is too narrow for me,
and perhaps too shallow. I say nothing against it in a general way; I
only speak of it as it relates to myself. The very manner in which I
rejoice in the prospect of freedom proves to me that I ought to be free,
and that I did a wise thing in limiting the term of my sisterhood."

As Mother Anastasia spoke there was a glow of earnest pleasure upon her
face. She was truly very happy to be able to talk of her approaching
freedom.

I am a prudent man and a cautious one. This frank enthusiasm alarmed me.
How deftly she had put Sylvia out of sight! How skillfully she had
brought herself into full view, free and untrammeled by vows and
rules,--a woman as other women!

The more I saw of Mother Anastasia the better I liked her, but I
perceived that she was a woman with whom it was very necessary to be
cautious. She was apt, I thought, to make convictions of her
presumptions. If she presumed that my love for Sylvia was an utterly
hopeless affection, to be given up and forgotten, I did not like it. It
might be that it was hopeless, but I did not care to have any one else
settle the matter for me in that way,--not even Mother Anastasia.

"Of course," I remarked, "I am glad that you have concluded to withdraw
from a vocation which I am sure is not suited to you, and yet I feel a
little disappointed to hear that you will not continue at the head of
the House of Martha, for I came to Washington on purpose to make you a
proposition in regard to that institution."

"Came to Washington on purpose to see me, and to make a proposition!
What can it possibly be?"

I now laid before her, with considerable attention to detail, my plan
for working in cooeperation with the House of Martha. I showed her the
advantages of the scheme as they had suggested themselves to me, and as
an example of what could be done I mentioned Sylvia's fancy for
typewriting, and demonstrated how easily I could undertake the outside
management of this very lucrative and pleasant occupation. I warmed up
as I talked, and spoke quite strongly about what I--and perhaps in time
other men--might do for the benefit of the sisterhood, if my proposition
were accepted.

She listened to me attentively, her face growing paler and harder as I
proceeded. When I had finished she said:--

"It is not at all necessary for me to