CHAPTER XVIII
The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
‘Too fair, too fair,’ she smiled, ‘to be shorn! Are you in some danger, my pretty?’
‘In great danger, mother,’ said Vera. ‘The Regent would have the Tsar Ivan choose me, and indeed I would sooner die!’
‘There is no need for that,’ exclaimed the Superior, laughing kindly, ‘for in case of extreme danger you should be received here under full vows, and who would dare to touch you then? That would be better than death, child; believe me, we are not so terribly miserable here, though we have withdrawn from the outside world. If we do not hear its laughter, neither do its moans distress our ears.’
‘Nevertheless, good mother,’ said Vera, ‘I would sooner remain in the world. God may be served without these walls as well as within them.’
‘That is both true and untrue. But remain in the world by all means, pretty: who would prevent thee? Moreover, we are most of us disappointed women—we have had our sorrows, our bereavements, our sins, many of us, and therefore we are here. You, I doubt not, have reason enough for desiring neither to be Tsaritsa nor to enter sanctuary; maybe, also, I can guess the reason.’
The good old woman glanced in my direction, smiling very kindly. ‘Oh, well, well,’ she ended, ‘we have all been young once. God send thee happiness, my child, of the best that the world can give, and remember, in case the world prove illusive and disappointing, that there is pure happiness to be had here also, even though it is not that which the world generally esteems highest.’ Vera blushed, but spoke up frankly.
‘Mother, it is right that I should undeceive you, for you are mistaken. I am heart-free, and this good youth is in love with another maiden, who is, alas! in the terem, as I should be also but for his kindness and yours!’