Mrs. Priscilla smiled and blushed in her turn. "That is true!" said she. "I am sure no nun ever did any more; but yet—" "But yet all this was done in the station wherein she was placed by God, and following out the duty to which God hath called her, instead of placing herself in one which He hath never appointed, and for which He hath given no directions!" said Mrs. Corbet. "In His word we find abundance of councils and commands to wives, husbands, widows, servants, and children, and the like, but not one that I can remember to nuns!" "And to bishops and ministers," said Mrs. Priscy. "Yes—that they should be the husband of one wife!" I could not help saying, whereat they both laughed, and Mrs. Priscy blushed. (I think she hath a fancy for Mr. Penrose. I wish he would take a liking to her. I am sure she would make him an excellent wife.) "But all women do not wish to marry, or have not the chance to do so," said Mrs. Priscilla. "What would you have them do?" "Whatever Providence brings in their way," answered Mrs. Corbet. "If they are in earnest about wishing to serve Him, they are not like to go begging for work. Look at Mistress Ellenwood, our excellent schoolmistress. Where will you find a life more useful and devoted than hers?" "But still there seems something so noble in devoting oneself, body and soul, to His service!" remarked Mrs. Priscilla. "In vowing all one's energies to His work!" "Well, my dear one, have you not already vowed as much at your baptism?" asked Madam. "Tell me, now, what were those things which your sponsors then promised for you?" Mrs. Priscy repeated according to the Catechism: "'First, that I should renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh: secondly, that I should believe all the articles of the Christian faith: thirdly, that I should keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of my life.'" "You see these promises cover a great deal of ground," said Mrs. Corbet. "You engage nothing less than absolute obedience and giving up of yourself to God all your life-long. Now tell me, having promised all to begin with, what can any other vows add to the force of these?" "But it seems as though it would be so much easier," said Mrs. Priscilla—"so much easier, I mean, to serve Him in retirement, away from the distractions of the world and all the temptations and interruptions of every-day life." "Then it seems it is your own ease you are seeking, after all!" said Madam, with a penetrating look. Mrs. Priscy blushed, but made no answer.