Then Salome arose, left the cell, and hurried back through the two long passages at right angles that conducted her from the nursery to the Infants' Asylum.
She passed silently as a spirit through every dormitory where her infant charges lay sleeping, assured herself that they were all safe and well, and then she entered her own little sleeping-closet adjoining the dormitory of the youngest infants, then disrobed and went to bed.
She was much too happy to sleep. She lay counting the hours to calculate in how short a time she could be with her beloved husband!
She had no dread of meeting him, not the least.
"Perfect love casteth out fear."
She arose early the next morning, and, after going through all her duties in the Infants' Asylum, she went to the lady-superior's sitting-room to consult her about making arrangements for an immediate departure for England.
"But shall you not write first to announce your arrival?" inquired the abbess.
"No; because I can go to England just as quickly as a letter can, and I would rather go. There is a train from L'Ange at five P. M. I can go by that and reach Calais in time for the morning boat, and be in London by noon to-morrow—as soon as a letter could go. And I could see my husband, actually see him, before I could possibly get a letter from him," said Salome, brightening.
"If his grace should be in London," put in the abbess.
"I think he will be in London. If he is not there, I can find out where he is, and follow him. Dear madam, do not hinder me. I must start by the first available train," said Salome, earnestly.