ar from well, and yet not exactly what we call ill.
Morning, noon and night she seems so terribly weary, and that is just
what frightens me. She has asked after you I don't know how many times,
and when tea is over you must go and see her. Only I must warn you, dear
Miss Janet, not to let your feelings overcome you when you see her--not
to make a scene. In that case your coming would do her not good, but
harm."

Janet recovered her spirits in a great measure before tea was over. She
and Dance had much to talk about, many pleasant reminiscences to call up
and discuss. As if by mutual consent, Lady Chillington's name was not
mentioned between them.

As soon as tea was over, Dance went to inquire when Sister Agnes would
see Miss Hope. The answer was, "I will see her at once."

So Janet went with hushed footsteps up the well-remembered staircase,
opened the door softly, and stood for a moment on the threshold. Sister
Agnes was lying on a sofa. She put her hand suddenly to her side and
rose to her feet as Janet entered the room. A tall, wasted figure robed
in black, with a thin, spiritualised face, the natural pallor of which
was just now displaced by a transient flush that faded out almost as
quickly as it had come. The white head-dress had been cast aside for
once, and the black hair, streaked with silver, was tied in a simple
knot behind. The large dark eyes looked larger and darker than they had
ever looked before, and seemed lit up with an inner fire that had its
source in another world than ours.

Sister Agnes advanced a step or two and held out her arms. "My darling!"
was all she said as she pressed Janet to her heart, and kissed her again
and again. They understood each other without words. The feeling within
them was too deep to find expression in any commonplace greeting.

The excitement of the meeting was too much for the strength of Sister
Agnes. She was obliged to lie down again. Janet sat by her side,
caressing one of her wasted hands.

"Your coming has made me very, very happy," murmured Sister Agnes after
a time.

"Through all the seven dreary years of my school life," said Janet, "the
expectation of some day seeing you again was the one golden dream that
the future held before me. That dream has now come true. How I have
looked forward to this day none save those who have been circumstanced
as I have can more than faintly imagine."

"Are you at all acquainted with Lady Chillington's intentions in as