The priest stood hesitant for a moment. The futility of his case seemed to impress him. Taking up his hat, he bowed without speaking and went out. The Sister Superior stepped to the telephone. Outside the door the man listened until he caught the number she called. His face grew dark and angry, and his hands clenched a she strode down the hall.
On the stairs that led up from the kitchen stood Sister Katherine.
“Hist! Father!”
He stopped and turned to the woman. Her finger went up to her lips.
“Wait on th’ corner––behind the church! The lassie will meet you there!”
Before he could reply the woman had plunged again into the dark stairway. Stopping at a small closet below, she took out a bundle. Then she hurried to the kitchen and summoned Carmen, who was sitting at a table peeling potatoes.
“Troth, lazy lass,” she commanded sharply, “do you take the bucket and mop and begin on the front steps. And mind that ye don’t bring me heavy hand down on ye! Och, lassie darlin’,” she added, when she had drawn the startled girl out of hearing of the others, “give yer old Katie a kiss, and then be off! Troth, it breaks me heart to see ye go––but ’twould break yours to stay! Go, lassie darlin’, an’ don’t fergit old Katie! Here,” thrusting the girl’s bundle and a dollar bill into her hands, “an’ God bless ye, lass! Ye’ve won me, heart an’ soul! Ye’ll find a frind at th’ nixt corner!” pointing up the street. She strained the girl again to her breast, then opened the door and hastily thrust her out into the street.
For a moment Carmen stood dazed by the suddenness of it all. She looked up confusedly at the great, yellow building from which she had been ejected. There was no visible sign of life. Then, grasping her bundle and the dollar bill, she hurried out through the gate and started up the street.
Around the corner stood Father Waite. The man’s face was furrowed, and his body trembled. The girl went up to him with a glad smile. The priest looked up, and muttered something incoherent under his breath a she took her hand.
“Where are we going, Padre?” she asked.