hat the room was habitually
occupied by a lady, and one moreover with wealth at her command, and
apparently of refined taste. Any further speculations, however, were
interrupted by the entrance of a personage whose dress and bearing
seemed to indicate that she must be the Lady Superior of the place.
The poor girl's first impulse was to spring towards her new protectress
and pour out her troubles to her, but in spite of herself she felt the
impulse checked, and her overflowing heart chilled by the cold and
supercilious look that made still more repellant a face repulsively
plain.

Clotilde could only clasp her hands together and gaze at her new
hostess, as if she felt that any appeal for help or pity from such a
quarter would be hopeless.

"I presume, mademoiselle," said the Lady Superior at last, "that we may
begin by taking it for granted that you quite understand the reasons
which have induced your friends, for your own good as well as in your
own interests, to take the course they have done."

These words were spoken in a voice so sweet, and with an air of such
high and courtly breeding, that for a moment Clotilde forgot everything
else in her surprise that they could belong to one so hideously ugly.
But the feeling was only momentary; the terrors of the night, which
might well have beaten down the boldest spirit, had passed away; and
once more, face to face with one of her own sex, Clotilde was herself
again.

"I can indeed guess, madame," she answered, with almost her usual
vivacity, "what reasons have induced those who should be dear to me to
do this most wicked thing; but right glad am I to think that they have
been foiled. By a strange mistake the bird they meant to catch has
escaped, and I have for the moment fallen into the trap intended for
another. I have not the pleasure of your acquaintance--a nearer
acquaintance, indeed, I do not desire, if I am to understand that you
are a willing party to this abominable plot--but I beg to introduce
myself to you as the Baroness Clotilde de Valricour. May I beg the
honour of your name and title?"

The lady's supercilious look gave place just for a few seconds to one
of involuntary surprise, but it soon came back again as she replied,
"Mademoiselle Lacroix will pardon me if I do not allow myself to be
deceived by this little scheme. I have been made so far acquainted
with the circumstances of the case as to know that much deceit has been
already practised, in