Dr. Grimshaw was forgiven, and--forgotten; but the thought
of Marian was the "undying worm," that preyed upon her heart. And so,
year after year, despite the arguments and persuasions of nearest
friends, and the constancy of poor Cloudy, Jacquelina tearfully turned
from love, friendship, wealth and ease, and renewed her vows of poverty,
celibacy, obedience, and the service of the poor, sick and ignorant, in
the hope of expiating her offense, soothing the voice of conscience, and
gaining peace. Jacquelina would have made her vows perpetual by taking
the black veil, but her Superior constantly dissuaded her from it. She
was young, and life, with its possibilities, was all before her; she
must wait many years before she took the step that could not be
retracted without perjury. And so each year she renewed her vow a
twelvemonth. The seventh year of her religious life was drawing to its
close, and she had notified her superior of her wish now, after so many
years of probation, to take the black veil, and make her vows perpetual.
And the Abbess had, at length, listened favorably to her expressed
wishes.
But a few days after this, as the good old Mother, Martha, the portress,
sat dozing over her rosary, behind the hall grating, the outer door was
thrown open, and a young man, in a midshipman's undress uniform, entered
rather brusquely, and came up to the grating.
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