“Not all peace here?” she said, with her tranquil smile. “Little Damia, what aileth thee?”
As soon as her voice was heard, little Damia’s head came up, and in a voice broken by sobs, she told her tale.
“Come, I think that can be put right,” saith the Mother, kindly. “Lie still, my child, till I come to thee again.”
She went away, and in a few minutes returned, with Erneburg. Of course Mother Alianora can go where the Sisters cannot.
“Little Damia,” she said, smiling, as she laid her hand on the child’s head, “I bring Erneburg to return thee thy ‘tig.’ Now canst thou go to sleep in peace?”
“Yes, thank you, Mother. You are good!” said little Damia gratefully, looking quite relieved, as Erneburg kissed her.
“Such a little thing!” said Mother Alianora, with a smile. “Yet thou art but a little thing thyself.”
They went away, and I tarried a moment to light the blessed Mother’s lamp, and to say the Hail Mary with the children. When I came down-stairs, the first voice I heard in the recreation-room was Mother Gaillarde’s.
“Well, if ever I did hear such a story! Sister, you ruin those children!”
“Nay,” saith Mother Alianora’s gentle voice, “surely not, my Sister, by a little kindness such as that.”