The Argosy — page 275: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Master of Greylands. 257 of her. It had caused quite a commotion of delight. To number a Castlemaine amidst them, especially one so much esteemed, so high and grand and good, as the banker’s daughter, was an honour hardly to be believed in; the small fortune she would bring seemed fike riches in itself, and they coveted the companionship of the sweet and gentle lady for their own sakes. Her joining them would swell the Community to thirteen; but no reason existed against that. Sister Margaret put down her pen, Sister Betsey her linen, as their visitor entered. They gave her the one arm-chair by the fire—Sister Mildred's own place—and Mary put back her crape veil as she sat down. Calm, quiet, good, looked these ladies in their simple, grey gowns, their hair smoothly braided under the white cap of worked muslin; and Mary Ursula seemed to feel a foretaste of peace in the time when the like dress, the like serene life, would be hers. The superior sisters came flocking in on hearing she was there; all were present save Sister Mildred: Margaret, Charlotte, Betsey, Grizzel, and Mona. They hastened to tell Miss Castlemaine of a hope, or rather project, they had been entertaining—namely, that when she joined the community, she should become its head. Sister Mildred, incapacitated by her long illness, had long wished to resign control ; and would have done so before, but that Sister Margaret, on whom is ought to descend, shrunk from taking it. Miss Castlemaine sat in doubt : the proposal took her by surprise. ‘‘T do all the writing that has to be done, and keep the accounts, and you see that’s all I’m good for,” said Sister Margaret to Miss Cas- tiemaine, in atone of confidence. ‘‘If I were put in Sister Mildred’s place, and had to order this and decide that, I should be lost. Why, if they.came and asked me whether the dinner for the day should con- sist of fresh herrings, or pork and peas-pudding, I should never know which to say.” ‘Sister Mildred may regain her health,” observed Miss Castlemaine. ‘“ But she'll never regain her hearing,” put in Sister Grizzel, a little, quick, fresh-coloured, talkative woman. ‘“ And that tells very much against her as Superioress. In fact, her continuing as such is like a farce.” ‘‘ Besides, she herself wants to give it up,” said Sister Charlotte. ‘“Oh, Miss Castlemaine, if you would but accept it in her place! You would make us happy.” Mary Ursula said she must take time for consideration. She was invited to go up to Sister Mildred, who would be sure to think it a slight if she did not. So she was conducted upstairs by the ladies, Charlotte and Mona, and found herself in along, dark, narrow corridor which had doors on either side—the nuns’ cells..of oldOCThe Head Sister’s room was at the extreme end—a neat, little chamber whose LOOLLS| SoG VOL. XV. IMICISOO SoCo