laced the helpless
dismay on the old face. She quickly closed the cell door, hung up the
crypt key in its accustomed place; then kneeling before the shrine of
the Madonna: "Blessed Virgin," she prayed, with clasped hands uplifted;
"be pleased to sharpen once again the wits of old Mary Antony."

Rising, she found the key of the Reverend Mother's cell, passed out,
closing the door behind her; locked it, and slipped the key into her
wallet.

The passage was empty. All the nuns were spending in prayer and
meditation the time until the Refectory bell should ring.

Mary Antony appeared in the kitchen, only a few minutes later than
usual.

"Prepare _you_ the evening meal," she said to her subordinates. "_I_
care not what the holy Ladies feed upon this even, nor how badly it be
served. Reverend Mother again elects to spend the night in prayer and
fasting. So Mother Sub-Prioress will spit out a curse upon the viands;
or Sister Mary Rebecca will miaul over them like an old cat that sees a
tom in every shadow, though all toms have long since fled at her
approach. Serve at the usual hour; and let Abigail ring the Refectory
bell. I am otherwise employed. And remember. Reverend Mother is on
no account to be disturbed."

The porteress, at the gate, jumped well-nigh out of her skin when,
turning, she found Mary Antony at her elbow.

"Beshrew me, Sister Antony!" she exclaimed. "Wherefore"----

"Whist!" said Mary Antony. "Speak not so loud. Now listen, Mary Mark.
Saw you the great Lord Bishop yesterday, a-walking with Mary Antony?
Ha, ha! Yea, verily! 'Worthy Mother,' his lordship called me.
'Worthy Mother,' with his hand upon his heart. And into the gardens he
walked with Mary Antony. Wherefore, you ask? Wherefore should the
great Lord Bishop walk in the Convent garden with an old lay-sister,
who ceased to be a comely wench more than half a century ago? Because,
Sister Mark, if you needs must know, the Lord Bishop is full of anxious
fears for the Reverend Mother, and knoweth that Mary Antony, old though
she be, is able to tend and watch over her. The Lord Bishop and the
Worthy Mother both fear that the Reverend Mother fasts too often, and
spends too many hours in vigil. The Reverend Father has therefore
deputed the Worthy Mother to watch in this matter, and to let him know
at once if the Reverend Mother imperils her health again, by too
lengthy a fast or vigil. And, lo! this very day, the Reverend Mother