Next morning Kitty went to the convent. The girl who opened the door seemed surprised to see her and when Kitty had been for a few minutes about her work the Mother Superior came in. She went up to Kitty and took her hand.

“I am glad to see you, my dear child. You show a fine courage in coming back here so soon after your great sorrow; and wisdom, for I am sure that a little work will keep you from brooding.”

Kitty cast down her eyes, reddening a little; she did not want the Mother Superior to see into her heart.

“I need not tell you how sincerely all of us here sympathise with you.”

“You are very kind,” whispered Kitty.

“We all pray for you constantly and for the soul of him you have lost.”

Kitty made no reply. The Mother Superior released her hand and in her cool, authoritative tone imposed various tasks upon her. She patted two or three children on the head, gave them her aloof, but winning smile, and went about her more pressing affairs.

第二天早晨，凯蒂去了修道院。给她开门的女孩看到她似乎很吃惊。当凯蒂工作了一会儿以后，院长嬷嬷进来了。她走近凯蒂，拉住了她的手。

“我很高兴见到你，我亲爱的孩子。在经过了巨大的悲痛之后不久，你就来这儿工作，让我们看到了你非凡的勇气。但你也是明智的，因为我敢肯定做一点儿工作能够让你远离忧思。”

凯蒂垂下了眼帘，眼圈又红了，她不想让院长嬷嬷看透她的内心。

“我不用告诉你我们这儿所有的人都真心地同情你。”

“你们都太好了。”凯蒂小声地说。

“我们所有人都为你和你已逝去丈夫的灵魂不停地祈祷。”

凯蒂没有回答。院长嬷嬷松开了她的手，用冷冷的、下命令似的口吻给她布置了几项任务，拍了拍两三个孩子的头，冲她们超然、动人地笑了笑，然后又去忙更紧要的事情了。