Touching his hat precisely
as if the old lady had been his superior officer, he said, hastily:
"Madam, if you please, I wish to see Mrs. ----; you know who I mean, I
presume? my cousin, Jacquelina."
The portress knew well enough, for she had seen Cloudy there several
times before, but she replied:
"You mean, young gentleman, that pious daughter, called in the world
Mrs. Grimshaw, but in religion Sister Theresa?"
"Fal lal!--that is--I beg your pardon, Mother, but I wish to see the
lady immediately. Can I do so?"
"The dear sister Theresa is at present making her retreat, preparatory
to taking the black veil."
"The what!" exclaimed Cloudy, with as much horror as if it had been the
"black dose" she was going to take.
"The black veil--and so she cannot be seen."
"Madam, I have a very pressing form of invitation here, which people are
not very apt to disregard. Did you ever hear of a subpoena, dear
Mother?"
The good woman never had, but she thought it evidently something
"uncanny," for she said, "I will send for the Abbess;" and she beckoned
to a nun within, and sent her on the errand--and soon the Abbess
appeared, and Cloudy made known the object of his visit.
"Go into the parlor, sir, and Sister Theresa will attend you," said that
lady.
Pages:
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396