Adele,
your pupil from this time forward, whom I commend most earnestly to
your kindness and care."

Sister Agatha took the child most affectionately in her arms, and
pressing a kiss on her brow, said sweetly:

"You must confide in me, dear child, as if I were your mother, and I
will consider you a sacred trust committed to me. We are all a large
family of Sisters here, who love one another, learning cheerfully and
working diligently. 'Pray and work!' This golden proverb is our motto
through the day, and the love and industry which you will see
everywhere will soon teach you to feel at home among us."

"I live, as you know, in the neighborhood," said Frau von Trautenau, as
Adele looked up tearfully. "Our estate, Wollmershain Grove, is only a
few hours' ride from here, and sometimes, if I drive in, you will, I
suppose, allow Adele to visit us for a little recreation?"

"Oh, certainly, Frau Von Trautenau," returned Sister Agatha--"in
vacation. May I now show you our apartments and arrangements, so that
you may know exactly how your dear little girl will be situated?"

"I shall be delighted," replied the lady. "Everything here interests
us, of course, in the highest degree."

With that, they all rose and followed the sister.

CHAPTER III.

"We require a great deal of room," explained Sister Agatha, as they
passed along, "as there are separate apartments, not only for the
pupils, but also for the unmarried Sisters of our community, who are
not members of a family and yet live and work here with us. Indeed,
even those who have families in the outside world often come to us to
employ their unoccupied time." So saying, she led her guests from the
first floor to the second, and from one room to another. Everything
was neatly and simply arranged. The modest dress of the Sisters, with
their little white caps, their calm diligence in spite of the
exhilarating air of this bright morning, their quiet gait and subdued
voices, the deep silence which pervaded the house, gave one the
sensation of being in a cloister. Sister Agatha conducted the party
into the general workroom. It was built like a deep hall. At long
tables sat numbers of girls with every variety of countenance; all
young, not quite grown, gathered in separate groups, busy with
needlework or writing. The elder ones seemed to supervise the younger
and instruct them in their work. Amongst these was the girl who had
acted the part of guide to