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how was he to prevent her？ It wanted but an hour of dusk。 Even if he
could again penetrate the convent on some pretext at that inaccessible hour
for visitors；twilight；how could he communicate with her？ He might
intercept her on the way； and persuade her to return； but she must be kept
from entering the hotel。
He seized his hat and rushed downstairs。 But here another difficulty
beset him。 It was easy enough to take the ordinary road to the convent；
but would SHE follow that public one in what must be a surreptitious
escape？ And might she not have eluded the procession that morning； and
even now be concealed somewhere； waiting for the darkness to make her
visit。 He concluded to patrol the block next to the hotel； yet near enough
to intercept her before she reached it； until the hour came。 The time
passed slowly。 He loitered before shop windows； or entered and made
purchases； with his eye on the street。 The figure of a pretty girl；and
there were many；the fluttering ribbons on a distant hat； or the flashing of
a cambric skirt around the corner sent a nervous thrill through him。 The
reflection of his grave； abstracted face against a shop window； or the
announcement of the workings of his own mine on a bulletin board； in its
incongruity with his present occupation； gave him an hysterical impulse to
laugh。 The shadows were already gathering； when he saw a slender；
graceful figure disappear in the confectioner's shop on the block below。
In his elaborate precautions； he had overlooked that common trysting spot。
He hurried thither； and entered。 The object of his search was not there；
and he was compelled to make a shamefaced； awkward survey of the
tables in an inner refreshment saloon to satisfy himself。 Any one of the
pretty girls seated there might have been the one who had just entered； but
none was the one he sought。 He hurried into the street again；he had
wasted a precious moment；and resumed his watch。 The sun had sunk；
the Angelus had rung out of a chapel belfry； and shadows were darkening
the vista of the Alameda。 She had not come。 Perhaps she had thought
better of it； perhaps she had been prevented； perhaps the whole
appointment had been only a trick of some day…scholars； who were
laughing at him behind some window。 In proportion as he became
convinced that she was not coming； he was conscious of a keen despair
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growing in his heart； and a sickening remorse that he had ever thought of
preventing her。 And when he at last reluctantly reentered the hotel； he
was as miserable over the conviction that she was not coming as he had
been at her expected arrival。 The porter met him hurriedly in the hall。
〃Sister Seraphina of the Sacred Heart has been here； in a hurry to see
you on a matter of importance；〃 he said； eyeing Key somewhat curiously。
〃She would not wait in the public parlor； as she said her business was
confidential； so I have put her in a private sitting…room on your floor。〃
Key felt the blood leave his cheeks。 The secret was out for all his
precaution。 The Lady Superior had discovered the girl's flight；or her
attempt。 One of the governing sisterhood was here to arraign him for it；
or at least prevent an open scandal。 Yet he was resolved； and seizing this
last straw； he hurriedly mounted the stairs； determined to do battle at any
risk for the girl's safety； and to perjure himself to any extent。
She was standing in the room by the window。 The light fell upon the
coarse serge dress with its white facings； on the single girdle that scarcely
defined the formless waist； on the huge crucifix that dangled ungracefully
almost to her knees； on the hideous； white… winged coif that； with the
coarse but dense white veil； was itself a renunciation of all human vanity。
It was a figure he remembered well as a boy； and even in his excitement
and half resentment touched him now； as when a boy； with a sense of its
pathetic isolation。 His head bowed with boyish deference as she
approached gently； passed him a slight salutation； and closed the door that
he had forgotten to shut behind him。
Then； with a rapid movement； so quick that he could scarcely follow it；
the coif； veil； rosary； and crucifix were swept off； and the young pupil of
the convent stood before him。
For all the sombre suggestiveness of her disguise and its ungraceful
contour； there was no mistaking the adorable little head； tumbled all over
with silky tendrils of hair from the hasty withdrawal of her coif； or the
blue eyes that sparkled with frank delight beneath them。 Key thought her
more beautiful than ever。 Yet the very effect of her frankness and beauty
was to recall him to all the danger and incongruity of her position。
〃This is madness；〃 he said quickly。 〃You may be followed here and
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discovered in this costume at any moment！〃 Nevertheless； he caught the
two little hands that had been extended to him； and held them tightly； and
with a frank familiarity that he would have wondered at an instant before。
〃But I won't；〃 she said simply。 〃You see I'm doing a 'half… retreat'；
and I stay with Sister Seraphina in her room； and she always sleeps two
hours after the Angelus； and I got out without anybody knowing me； in her
clothes。 I see what it is；〃 she said； suddenly bending a reproachful glance
upon him； 〃you don't like me in them。 I know they're just horrid； but it
was the only way I could get out。〃
〃You don't understand me；〃 he said eagerly。 〃I don't like you to run
these dreadful risks and dangers for〃He would have said 〃for me；〃 but
added with sudden humility〃for nothing。 Had I dreamed that you cared
to see me； I would have arranged it easily without this indiscretion； which
might make others misjudge you。 Every instant that you remain here
worse； every moment that you are away from the convent in that disguise；
is fraught with danger。 I know you never thought of it。〃
〃But I did；〃 she said quietly； 〃I thought of it； and thought that if Sister
Seraphina woke up； and they sent for me； you would take me away with
you to that dear little hollow in the hills； where I first heard your voice。
You remember it； don't you？ You were lost； I think； in the darkness； and
I used to say to myself afterwards that I found you。 That was the first
time。 Then the second time I heard you； was here in the hall。 I was
alone in the other room； for Mrs。 Barker had gone out。 I did not know
you were here； but I knew your voice。 And the third time was before the
convent gate； and then I knew you knew me。 And after that I didn't think
of anything but coming to you； for I knew that if I was found out； you
would take me back with you； and perhaps send word to my brother where
we were； and then〃 She stopped suddenly； with her eyes fixed on Key's
blank face。 Her own grew blank； the joy faded out of her clear eyes； she
gently withdrew her hand from his； and without a word began to resume
her disguise。
〃Listen to me；〃 said Key passionately。 〃I am thinking only of YOU。 I
want to； and WILL； save you from any blame；blame you do not
understand even now。 There is still time。 I will go back to the convent
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with you at once。 You shall tell me everything； I will tell you everything
on the way。〃
She had already completely resumed her austere garb； and drew the
veil across her face。 With the putting on her c