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he had forgotten to shut behind him。
Then； with a rapid movement； so quick that he could scarcely follow it；
the coif； veil； rosary； and crucifix were swept off； and the young pupil of
the convent stood before him。
For all the sombre suggestiveness of her disguise and its ungraceful
contour； there was no mistaking the adorable little head； tumbled all over
with silky tendrils of hair from the hasty withdrawal of her coif； or the
blue eyes that sparkled with frank delight beneath them。 Key thought her
more beautiful than ever。 Yet the very effect of her frankness and beauty
was to recall him to all the danger and incongruity of her position。
〃This is madness；〃 he said quickly。 〃You may be followed here and
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discovered in this costume at any moment！〃 Nevertheless； he caught the
two little hands that had been extended to him； and held them tightly； and
with a frank familiarity that he would have wondered at an instant before。
〃But I won't；〃 she said simply。 〃You see I'm doing a 'half… retreat'；
and I stay with Sister Seraphina in her room； and she always sleeps two
hours after the Angelus； and I got out without anybody knowing me； in her
clothes。 I see what it is；〃 she said； suddenly bending a reproachful glance
upon him； 〃you don't like me in them。 I know they're just horrid； but it
was the only way I could get out。〃
〃You don't understand me；〃 he said eagerly。 〃I don't like you to run
these dreadful risks and dangers for〃He would have said 〃for me；〃 but
added with sudden humility〃for nothing。 Had I dreamed that you cared
to see me； I would have arranged it easily without this indiscretion； which
might make others misjudge you。 Every instant that you remain here
worse； every moment that you are away from the convent in that disguise；
is fraught with danger。 I know you never thought of it。〃
〃But I did；〃 she said quietly； 〃I thought of it； and thought that if Sister
Seraphina woke up； and they sent for me； you would take me away with
you to that dear little hollow in the hills； where I first heard your voice。
You remember it； don't you？ You were lost； I think； in the darkness； and
I used to say to myself afterwards that I found you。 That was the first
time。 Then the second time I heard you； was here in the hall。 I was
alone in the other room； for Mrs。 Barker had gone out。 I did not know
you were here； but I knew your voice。 And the third time was before the
convent gate； and then I knew you knew me。 And after that I didn't think
of anything but coming to you； for I knew that if I was found out； you
would take me back with you； and perhaps send word to my brother where
we were； and then〃 She stopped suddenly； with her eyes fixed on Key's
blank face。 Her own grew blank； the joy faded out of her clear eyes； she
gently withdrew her hand from his； and without a word began to resume
her disguise。
〃Listen to me；〃 said Key passionately。 〃I am thinking only of YOU。 I
want to； and WILL； save you from any blame；blame you do not
understand even now。 There is still time。 I will go back to the convent
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with you at once。 You shall tell me everything； I will tell you everything
on the way。〃
She had already completely resumed her austere garb； and drew the
veil across her face。 With the putting on her coif she seemed to have
extinguished all the joyous youthfulness of her spirit； and moved with the
deliberateness of renunciation towards the door。 They descended the
staircase without a word。 Those who saw them pass made way for them
with formal respect。
When they were in the street； she said quietly； 〃Don't give me your
armSisters don't take it。〃 When they had reached the street corner； she
turned it； saying； 〃This is the shortest way。〃
It was Key who was now restrained； awkward； and embarrassed。 The
fire of his spirit； the passion he had felt a moment before； had gone out of
him； as if she were really the character she had assumed。 He said at last
desperately：
〃How long did you live in the hollow？〃
〃Only two days。 My brother was bringing me here to school； but in
the stage coach there was some one with whom he had quarreled； and he
didn't want to meet him with me。 So we got out at Skinner's； and came to
the hollow； where his old friends； Mr。 and Mrs。 Barker； lived。〃
There was no hesitation nor affectation in her voice。 Again he felt
that he would as soon have doubted the words of the Sister she represented
as her own。
〃And your brotherdid you live with him？〃
〃No。 I was at school at Marysville until he took me away。 I saw
little of him for the past two years； for he had business in the mountains
very rough business； where he couldn't take me； for it kept him away from
the settlements for weeks。 I think it had something to do with cattle； for
he was always having a new horse。 I was all alone before that； too； I had
no other relations； I had no friends。 We had always been moving about
so much； my brother and I。 I never saw any one that I liked； except you；
and until yesterday I had only HEARD you。〃
Her perfect naivete alternately thrilled him with pain and doubt。 In his
awkwardness and uneasiness he was brutal。
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〃Yes； but you must have met somebodyother menhere even； when
you were out with your schoolfellows； or perhaps on an adventure like
this。〃
Her white coif turned towards him quickly。 〃I never wanted to know
anybody else。 I never cared to see anybody else。 I never would have
gone out in this way but for you；〃 she said hurriedly。 After a pause she
added in a frightened tone： 〃That didn't sound like your voice then。 It
didn't sound like it a moment ago either。〃
〃But you are sure that you know my voice；〃 he said； with affected
gayety。 〃There were two others in the hollow with me that night。〃