"There is no place to sit down here," she said, "but I'm not tired, are you?"
I assured her that I was not, and would as soon talk standing as sitting.
"Now, then," she began, "tell me about yourself. What have you been doing? What are your plans?"
"My plans!" I cried. "Of what importance are my plans and actions? I thought you wished to speak to me of Sylvia."
She smiled. "There is really nothing to say about that young person, of whom, by the way, you should not speak as 'Sylvia.' She is now a full member of the sisterhood, and has accepted the name of 'Sister Hagar.' We found that the other sisters would not like it if an exception were made in her favor, in regard to her name."
"'Hagar!'" I groaned. "Horrible!"
"Oh, no," replied Mother Anastasia, "there is nothing horrible about it. 'Hagar' is a little harsh, perhaps, but one soon gets used to that sort of thing."
"I can never get used to it," I said.
"My dear Mr. Vanderley," said the Mother Superior, speaking very earnestly, but with a gentleness that was almost affectionate, "I wish I could impress upon your mind that there is no need of your getting used to the name of our young sister, or of your liking it or disliking it. You ought thoroughly to understand, from what she has told you, and from what I have told you, that she never can be anything to you, and that, out of regard to yourself, if to no one else, you should cease to think of her as I see you do think."
"As long as I live in this world," I replied, "I shall continue to think of her as I do think."