ed to the crozier. "I am authorised by a bull of our holy
father; I will, therefore, present to the benediction of
monseigneur the Archbishop of Oppenheim, and to the approbation
of his royal highness the grand duke our sovereign, whosoever of
my dear daughters shall be pointed out by you to succeed me.
Our grand prioress will inform you of the result of the
election, and she who has been chosen will receive my crozier
and ring."

I did not take my eyes off my daughter. Standing up in her
stall, her two hands folded over her bosom, her eyes cast down,
and half covered by her white veil and the long folds of her
black gown, she was pensive and motionless, not supposing for a
moment that she would herself be elected, as this fact had been
communicated by the abbess to no one but myself.

The grand prioress took a book and read:

"Each of our dear sisters having been, according to the rule,
requested a week since to place her vote in the hands of our
holy mother, and keep her choice secret until this moment, in
the name of our holy mother I declare to you, my dear, dear
sisters, that one of you has, by her exemplary piety, merited
the unanimous suffrages of the community, and that she is our
sister Amelie, the most noble and puissant Princess of
Gerolstein."

At these words a murmur of pleased surprise and satisfaction
went around the apartment; the eyes of all the nuns were fixed
on my daughter with an expression of tender sympathy, and, in
spite of my painful forebodings, I was myself deeply touched at
this nomination, which, done isolatedly and secretly, had yet
presented such an affecting unanimity.

The abbess continued, in a serious and loud voice:

"My dear daughters, if it be, indeed, Sister Amelie whom you
think the most worthy and most deserving of you all,--if it be
she whom you recognise as your spiritual superior, let each of
you reply to me in turn, my dear daughters."

And each nun replied in a clear voice:

"Freely and voluntarily I have chosen, and I do choose, Sister
Amelie for my holy mother and superior."

Overcome by inexpressible emotion, my poor child fell on her
knees, clasped her hands, and remained so until each vote was
declared. Then the abbess, placing the crozier and the ring in
the hands of the grand prioress, advanced towa