The abbess impulsively looked up to see what was the matter, and—echoed the cry!
There was dead silence in the room for a minute, and then Salome lifted up her head and cautiously looked around.
The visitors had gone, and the children, who with child-like curiosity had suspended their play to gaze upon the strangers, were now re-commencing their noise with renewed vehemence.
Salome still trembling in every limb, turned toward her companion.
The abbess sat with clasped hands, lowered eyelids, and face as pale as death.
Salome, too much absorbed in her own emotion to notice the strange condition of the abbess, touched her on the shoulder and eagerly whispered:
"Mother, did you observe the visitors?"
"Yes," breathed the lady, in a very low tone, without lifting her eyelids.
"Did you notice—the man?" Salome continued.
"I did," murmured the abbess, in an almost inaudible voice, as she devoutly made the sign of the cross.