“Miss Grantham, isn’t it? Ah yes! I remember you quite well at Sister Frances Mary’s Clothing—dear me, how little we thought then—less than a year ago, wasn’t it, and now—well, well! God’s Holy Will be done! But the very day I learnt she was ill I said: ‘Ah dear, now, to think that such a little while ago I saw her taking the habit,’ I said; ‘God’s ways are not our ways,’ I said.”
“When am I going to see her?” asked Rosamund with white lips.
“Ah,” said Mrs. Mulholland, shaking her head, and appearing to think that she had given an adequate reply.
She sat down heavily.
“Now I want you to listen to me a moment, my dear child. You don’t mind my calling you so? No—that’s right. We’re all little children in the sight of God, is what I always say, and I’m sure you feel like that too.
“Now I wonder if you know why I’ve been sent in here to you?”
Rosamund shook her head dumbly. Mrs. Mulholland’s words barely penetrated to her outer senses, and her mind was tense with waiting for a summons that surely could no longer delay.
“Well, our Assistant Superior, Mother Carolina, whom you’ve seen already, sent for me, because she thought I might be of a little help to you. She’s very busy, Mother Carolina, very much distressed and grieved at our dear Mother Pauline’s illness, though it’s nothing very serious, thank God—and very much harassed and overworked with all the responsibilities that have fallen on her shoulders. But she found time to send for me, because she thought I might be of more comfort to you, not being a nun, and you being unused to convents and religious, than one of the community. Now that,” said Mrs. Mulholland impressively, “is what I call great delicacy of feeling. But that’s Mother Carolina all over. Nothing if not thoughtful. ‘C’est la mère aux petits soins,’ is what I always say about her.”
She looked at Rosamund’s white, inattentive face.
“You don’t quite understand our convent ways, do you?” she said compassionately, “and of course that’s very natural. But that’s why Mother Carolina thought you’d rather have me to explain things to you than one of the nuns, though she means to send the novice-mistress and the infirmarian to you presently, so that you shall have the very latest news of our dear little sufferer.”