Charles to Strafford. appears to me, there should be as implicit obedience rendered to the one appointed by the mother-superior as to herself, for in disobeying the delegate I should disobey the principal, as in disobeying the principal I should disobey God. But in this obedience, which, I trust, you will find me invariably pay to every sister appointed over me, there is no humility: it will only result, as I before said, from my sense of what is just and rational, and the course to be pursued by every one possessed of common In convent government it sense." "You are determined," said the mother-superior, smiling, "to resist all vain glory.” "But just imagine, dear reverend mother, the unfortunate delegate, who whether sacristan, infirmarian, or whatever post she held, should find me independent of every command but your's." Indeed she would be an object for my sincere commiseration," said the mother-superior; "but as you justly observe, such a position of affairs would never be permitted in a convent, where the principle of obedience, to be consistent, must pervade every rank. In our visitation of the sick this humble submission is very essential. All must be calm, and sweet, and edifying, in the manner of the sisters when they leave the enclosure; and to ensure this, the wishes of the elder sister must be law to the younger." Geraldine thought of, and repeated that part of the rule which related to the deportment of the sisters, and to the feeling which would ensure it : "Two sisters shall always go out together: the greatest caution and gravity must be observed passing through the streets: walking neither in slow nor hurried pace, not stopping to converse, nor saluting those whom they meet, keeping close without lean, ing, preserving recollection of mind, and going forward as if they expected to see their divine Redeemer in each poor habitation, since he has said, 'Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I.'" CHAPTER XVII. "Hail solitude! how sweet thy shade, Who walked with God, in shades like this. ODE BY JONES OF NAYLAND. WITH grateful heart Geraldine saw arrive the eve of the spiritual retreat, which commences eight days previously to the reception of novices, and terminates after mass and communion on the morning of the ceremony. After she and her sister recluses had received the parting blessing from the mother-superior, and from the community their sisterly kiss and promise of prayers, they went immediately to the choir, to read the meditation proper for that night in presence of the blessed sacrament. Here Geraldine raised her heart in thanksgiving for the blessed prospect before her. She was on the eve of her spiritual journey into the desert, and already did she enter into the rapture which her soul was about to enjoy. She had, indeed, with the psalmist, longed for the time when, alone with God, apart from creatures, and all human sources of refreshment dried up in her heart, the dew of divine grace from the sanctuary might refresh her spirit to behold his power and glory. She had watched for her divine spouse from the dawn of day-her soul had thirsted after him. O, by how many titles did her whole being belong to him, and now her soul was replenished with his benediction, and filled with rapturous joy! Never since the spiritual favours bestowed on her previous to her widowhood, had Geraldine received such abundant graces. She began the points of her meditation, but her mind grasped at once all that could be written, and her heart required no stimulus. "My beloved to me, and I to him!" all was comprised in this union of the creature with her Creator-the redeemed and her Redeemer, the sanctified and the sanctifier, the penitent in renewed innocence, and the God of all purity and love. Geraldine entered her cell, and its very walls seemed strengthened in peace. "O, whence is this to me!" cried she, sinking on her knees, "that thou, my God, shouldst visit me with such abundant mercy? Well do I know, that in an instant all can be withdrawn, and I be left a trembling, desolate creature. All this is thy free gift, therefore will I praise, and bless, and love thee with all my being." Thus passed the eight days of Geraldine's retreat, with but one exception occurring to disturb this holy peace. This was a return of that strong attraction to the cloister, which had before induced her to resign this her first vocation, and which the spiritual consolations experienced during this retreat seemed to favour; but our heroine well knew this to be a temptation from the enemy, and therefore resisted it with success, and hailed, with equal joy to that with which she had entered her retreat, the happy morning which bade her "come forth from the desert leaning upon her beloved." Little mattered it to Geraldine that crowds were assembled to witness the ceremony, or that she was once more arrayed in bridal attire. She felt nothing but the presence of the blessed sacrament, of the bishop and priests of God, and of the holy brethren of the religious orders, who were around her. Among them also stood that English priest, whose feelings were the most personally interested in the sacred scene. Before the procession of religious moved towards the choir, headed by the cross-bearer, and singing the hymn "O, Gloriosa Virginum," Geraldine and her companions had asked, on their knees, the mother-superior's blessing, and her permission to take the names they had chosen in religion. The sermon was preached from the altar by the provincial of the Capuchin Friars, who was the confessor extraordinary to the convent, during which the postulants were seated before him; and the glowing picture he drew of the religious life, especially that devoted to "Mercy," came with double effect from one whose unremitting labours, amongst the suffering and dying poor, were well known to all who heard him. At the conclusion of the sermon the postulants were led up the steps of the altar, and thus interrogated severally by the bishop. 66 My child, what do you demand?” Our heroine, who was the eldest, first replied, "The mercy of God, and the holy habit of religion." "Is it with your own free will," said the Bishop, "that you demand the holy habit of religion?” "Yes, my lord,” replied our heroine. "Reverend mother," said the Bishop, turning to the superioress, "have you made the necessary inquiries, and are you satisfied?" 66 Yes, my lord," replied she. "My child," continued the Bishop to Geraldine, "have you a firm intention to persevere in religion to the end of your life, and do you hope to have sufficient strength to carry constantly the sweet |