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Updated: May 2, 2025
Yet was there something curiously furtive about Mother Sub-Prioress, when she entered the cloister. Listening at the doors in the cell passage, she had been merely official, acting with a precise celerity which bespoke long practice. Now she hesitated; looked around as if to make sure she was not observed, and obviously held, with her left hand, something concealed.
"Never were heard such shrieks of merriment! Even Mother Sub-Prioress sank upon a seat to laugh with less fatigue. Sister Seraphine's fretful complaints were forgotten. "Twice round the field went old Antony, with fingers uplifted. Icon stepped carefully, arching his neck and walking as if he well knew that he bore on his back, ninety odd years of brave gaiety.
Also, the boast was taken to mean poison in the broth of Mother Sub-Prioress. Hast thou ever put harmful things in the broth of Mother Sub-Prioress?" Mary Antony slipped to her knees. "Only beans, Reverend Mother, castor beans; and, when her temper was vilest, purging herbs. Nothing more, I swear it! Old Antony knows naught of poisons; only of mixing balsams ah, ha! and soothing ointments!
"This," indicating the shrivelled pea, "is Mother Sub-Prioress, who would love to have the whipping of thee, thou naughty little rascal! "This is Sister Mary Rebecca who daily grows more crooked, both in mind and body; yet who ever sweetly smileth.
Outside of the choir stalls, on either side of the church, were two special stalls, and the Reverend Mother and the sub-prioress knelt apart. Their backs were turned to Evelyn, and she noticed the fine delicate shoulders of the Reverend Mother, and the heavy figure of Mother Philippa. "Even in their backs they are like themselves," she thought.
But he had spoken sternly to Mother Sub-Prioress, therefore she endeavoured to put herself in the right by charging him, at the first opportunity, with unreasonable irritation. The Bishop reassured Sister Abigail, with a smile; then, pointing toward the closed door: "Proceed with your recital, Mother Sub-Prioress," he said.
Scores of times they called me 'Reverend Mother. 'Open the door, I humbly pray you, Reverend Mother, pleaded Mother Sub-Prioress at the keyhole. 'Dixi: Custodiam vias meas, chanted Mary Antony, in a beauteous voice! . . . 'Open, open, Reverend Mother! besought a multitude without.
The Bishop took one step toward Mother Sub-Prioress, with uplifted hand, pointing to the door. Mother Sub-Prioress hastened out. The Bishop followed her into the passage, where a waiting crowd of nuns created that atmosphere of excited tension, which seizes certain minds at the near approach of death.
She sends you loving greetings, her thanks for loyalty and obedience, and prays that the blessing of the Lord may ever be with you." The Bishop ceased speaking. At first there was an amazed silence. Then the unexpected happened. Mother Sub-Prioress, without any warning, broke into passionate weeping. Never before had Mother Sub-Prioress been known to weep. The sight petrified the Convent.
The old woman humbly lifted the hem of the Prioress's robe, and pressed it to her lips. "I promise, Reverend Mother," she said, "and I do repent me of my sin." "Sit beside me," commanded the Prioress. "I have more to say to thee. . . . Think not hard thoughts of the Sub-Prioress. She is stern, and extreme to mark what is done amiss, but this she conceives to be her duty. She is a most pious Lady.
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