Before long this chamber would be hers. At noon she had received word
from the Bishop that it was his intention to appoint her to be
Prioress, for the years which yet remained of the Reverend Mother's
term of office.
She had experienced a sinister pleasure in being thus promoted to this
high office by the Bishop, owing to the certainty that had the usual
election by ballot taken place, her name would not have been inscribed
by a single member of the Community.
Yet now, in this strangely softened mood, she began wistfully to desire
that there might be looks of pleasure and satisfaction on at least a
few faces, when the announcement should be made on the morrow.
Mother Sub-Prioress passed into the cell, and closed the door.
She was drawn, by the glow of the sunset, to the oriel window. But on
her way thither she found herself unexpectedly arrested before the
marble group of the Virgin and Child.
Mother Sub-Prioress never could see a naked babe without experiencing a
feeling of irritation against those who had failed to provide it with
suitable clothing. Possibly this was why she had hurriedly looked the
other way if her eye chanced to fall upon the beautiful sculpture in
the Prioress's cell.
Now, for the first time, she really saw it.
She stood and gazed; then knelt, and tried to understand.
The tenderness reached her heart and shook it. The encircling arms,
the loving breast, the watchful mother-eyes; the exquisite human love,
called forth by the necessity, the dependence, the helplessness of a
little child.
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