“Who is there? Keyork Arabian?”
Sister Paul nodded, glad that she was not obliged to pronounce the name that had for her such an unChristian sound.
“Where is he? I did not think he could come so soon. Oh, Sister Paul, do help me with my hair! I cannot make it stay.”
“He is in the parlour, down stairs,” answered the nun, coming to her assistance. “Indeed, child, I do not see how I can help you.” She touched the black coils ineffectually. “There! Is that better?” she asked in a timid way. “I do not know how to do it—”
“No, no!” Beatrice exclaimed. “Hold that end—so—now turn it that way—no, the other way—it is in the glass—so—now keep it there while I put in a pin—no, no—in the same place, but the other way—oh, Sister Paul! Did you never do your hair when you were a girl?”
“That was so long ago,” answered the nun meekly. “Let me try again.”
The result was passably satisfactory at last, and assuredly not wanting in the element of novelty.
“Are you not afraid to go alone?” asked Sister Paul with evident preoccupation, as Beatrice put a few more touches to her toilet.
But the young girl only laughed and made the more haste. Sister Paul walked with her to the head of the stairs, wishing that the rules would allow her to accompany Beatrice into the parlour. Then as the latter went down the nun stood at the top looking after her and audibly repeating prayers for her preservation.
The convent parlour was a large, bare room, lighted by a high and grated window. Plain, straight, modern chairs were ranged against the wall at regular intervals. There was no table, but a square piece of green carpet lay upon the middle of the stone pavement. A richly ornamented glazed earthenware stove, in which a fire had just been lighted, occupied one corner, a remnant of former aesthetic taste and strangely out of place since the old carved furniture was gone. A crucifix of inferior workmanship and realistically painted hung opposite the door. The place was reserved for the use of ladies in retreat and was situated outside the constantly closed door which shut off the cloistered part of the convent from the small portion accessible to outsiders.