"Of course, Sister Teresa's singing has done us a great deal of good, but the collections have fallen off considerably; and, as for the rich Catholics who were to pay off our debts, they are like the ships coming from the East, but whose masts have not yet appeared above the horizon."
"But does the Prioress still believe that these rich Catholics will come to her aid?"
"Oh, yes, she believes; she tells us that we must pray, and that if we pray they will come. Well, Father, prayer is very well, but we must try to help ourselves, and we have been thinking it over; and, in thinking it over, some of us have come to very practical conclusions."
"You have come to the conclusion that perhaps a good deal of time is wasted in this garden, which might be devoted to good works?"
"Yes, that has struck us, and we think the best way out of our difficulties would be a school."
"A school!"
"Something must be done," she said, "and we are thinking of starting a school. We've received a great deal of encouragement. I believe I could get twenty pupils to-morrow, but Mother Prioress won't hear of it. She tells us that we are to pray, and that all will come right. But even she does not depend entirely upon prayer; she depends upon Sister Teresa's singing."
"A most uncertain source of income, I should say."
"So we all think."
They walked in silence until within a few yards of the end of the walk; and, just as they were about to turn, the priest said: