"Ah, see how this wickedness has shocked the poor young nun! Therefore, dear sister, you must, as sub-prioress, make an end of the scandal, and prohibit this false priest from visiting the convent; for, indeed, they who permitted him such freedom amongst the nuns were more to blame for his sins than he himself."
Poor Dorothea groaned forth in answer—
"Alas, alas! why did I ever accept the sub-prioret? For the couple of sacks of flour and the bit of corn which she got more than the others, it was not worth while to be plagued to death. It was all true about the priest. He must be dismissed. But then she loved peace. How could she right such matters? Oh, that some one would relieve her of this sub-prioret!"
Illa.—"That can be easily done if you will. Suppose you ask Anna Apenborg to take it?"
Hæc.—"No, no; Anna had not sense enough for that; but if the dear sister herself would take it, how happy she would feel."
Illa.—"She was too sick, probably going to die; who could tell?"
Hæc.—"No, no; she would pray for her. The dear sister could not be spared yet. Let her say yes (falling on her neck and weeping), only let her say yes."
Illa.—"Well, out of love to her she would say yes; and if the Lord raised her up from this sick bed, order and decorum should reign again in the convent."
Hæc (again embracing her with gratitude).—"No doubt they would. She knew well that no such pure-minded nun was in the convent as her dear sister Sidonia."
Illa.—"But, good Dorothea, in order to get rid of the priest as soon as possible, we had better send the porter immediately to summon the abbess and the entire sisterhood here, for you to tender your resignation in their presence."