The "lady bountiful," a friend of General Khlobestovsky, was already seated in the boudoir. Her goggle eyes and projecting jaws well adapted to frighten poor people, opened wide at Helene's arrival, and in a high-pitched voice, imitating a famous actress, she exclaimed with a sigh, "How happy I am! How delighted! Holy woman!" and then turning towards a young girl very simply dressed who was also smiling at the nun, said, "Ah, Sacha, how long have you been here?" Sacha was a niece of the general, and had been taking a course of music lessons at Petrograd. When she saw her, Helene's face lighted up. "My course was over a fortnight ago, and I took advantage of it to come home again." "You would do much better," said the "benefactress," looking at Helene, "to follow her example than to follow your course; I tell her so in your presence, Sister, because I tell her so when you are not there to hear. To think that at your age, with your beauty, you have been able to go through such severe tests in order to overcome sin!" "Why did you send for me?" Helene asked. "Because, dear, we have decided to make a blue altar-cloth embroidered with gold and silk for your convent. Without your advice we do not know how to set about it; it is impossible for us to choose the design and the colours." The table was already covered with the velvet cloth in question which reached down to the ground; on it were lying skeins of silk, fringes and gold thread. As soon as Helene had taken her seat the ladies began an earnest discussion on the question whether they should embroider the flowers flame-colour, the stalks white, the leaves red, and at the top in gold a border of moss-roses. "But would it look natural?" said the nun. "Then what are we to do?" answered the "benefactress" in an agitated way. "Enlighten us, dear Sister; without you we are in darkness." When the consultation was over, Sacha, who had waited impatiently, approached Helene, took her arm, and led her to the drawing-room. "I have been to your church to-day," she said. "I have looked for you everywhere without seeing you." "I generally stand on the right in a corner." "In the shadow?" "Yes; one feels more comfortable out of observation." "It is a pity; I was looking forward so much to meeting you again, and did not succeed." "Why regret it?" "Ah well! As a devotee you are simply superb; one would say you had stepped out of the frame of a holy picture. And how they sing at your convent! You have a magnificent voice." "Who says so?" "My aunt in the first place. At school it seems that you already held every one under a spell." "Your aunt is too kind." "Not at all; she is only just. But tell me why do you not take part in the convent choirs?" "I do not wish to," said Helene, and a shadow passed over her face. "Pardon me," murmured Sacha, taking her hand. "I have perhaps vexed you; I am so foolish."