little leave-taking," replied Francesca; "I shall be ready in half an hour."
"I will allow you rather a longer space," said Guido; "for I must wait on his Eminence, in executing whose commissions I have been completely successful."
Francesca said truly that a little time would suffice to make ready for her departure. The ceremony of leave-taking with the Abbess was a mere ceremony; and the nuns were like children—all engrossed in preparations for the fête of St. Geneviève. Their only regret was, that Mademoiselle Carrara would taste none of the conserves and the pastry they were so busily concocting.
The coolness of Sister Louise's farewell wounded her the most. The heart of the young devotee had gradually weaned itself from all earthly affections; in her eyes their indulgence was a weakness, if not a crime, and their utter sacrifice the most acceptable that could be offered up in the sight of Heaven. Spiritual pride came in support of spiritual exaltation. Louise felt raised above her species; a voice had spoken within her inmost soul, whose revealings were vouchsafed but to the chosen few; and what had been indifference, was now disdain.
This species of mystical misanthropy is, of all
