When the news arrived that Father Daly had been transferred suddenly by the Bishop to another parish, Sister Winifred walked about in terror, expecting every minute to bring her a summons to the Prioress’s room.  A shiver went through her when she thought of the interview which probably awaited her; but as the morning wore away without any command reaching her, she began to take pleasure in the hope that she had escaped, and in the belief that the Prioress was afraid of an explanation.  No doubt that was it; and Sister Winifred picked up courage and the threads of the broken intrigue, resolving this time to confine herself to laying stress on the necessitous condition of the convent, which was still in debt, and the impossibility of Sister Teresa’s singing redeeming it entirely.

It would have been wiser if she had conducted her campaign as she intended to do, but the temptation was irresistible to point out, occasionally, that those who did not agree with her were the very nuns—­Angela, Veronica, Rufina, and one or two others—­who had confessed to the sin of praying for the visitations of counterparts during the hour of meditation and other hours.  By doing this she prejudiced her cause.  Her inuendoes reached the ears of the Bishop and Monsignor Mostyn, who came to the convent to settle the difficulty of an alteration in the rule; she was severely reprimanded, and it was decreed that the contemplative Orders were not out of date, and that nuns should be able to meditate on the Cross without considering too closely the joys that awaited the brides of Christ in heaven.  St. Teresa’s writings were put under ban, only the older nuns, who would not accept the words of the saint too literally, being allowed to read them.  “Added to which,” as Monsignor said, “the idle thoughts of the novices are occupying too much of our attention.  This is a matter for the spiritual adviser of the novices, and Father Rawley is one who will keep a strict watch.”

The Bishop concurred with Monsignor, and then applied his mind to the consideration of the proposed alteration of the rule, deciding that no alteration could receive his sanction, at all events during the life of the present Prioress.  Sister Winifred was told that the matter must be dropped for the present.  It so happened that Monsignor came upon her and Evelyn together before the Bishop left; and he tried to reconcile them, saying that when the Prioress was called to God—­it was only a question of time for all of us, and it didn’t seem probable that she would live very long; of course, it was a very painful matter, one which they did not care to speak about—­but after her death, if it should be decided that the Order might become a teaching Order, Sister Teresa would be the person who would be able to assist Sister Winifred better than any other.

“But, Monsignor,” Evelyn said, “I do not feel sure I’ve a vocation for the religious life.”