The Superior laid her book on the table; her eyes, as she looked at Ragna were full of kindly amusement, and also of respect. "Soeur Angélique," she said, "take these girls to their dormitories, and keep them till Benediction, afterwards I shall tell them what I have decided upon." As the door closed on the three, she turned to Mère Perpétua smiling. "Well?" she said. "What will you do with them, Reverend Mother? Shall they be publicly expelled?" "Ragna, as she has confessed, will be 'excused' from further walks outside the Convent; Astrid, for having concealed the letters will be kept at home also. You, ma Mère, will see that no word of this business gets about among the girls--I wish no one to speak of it, _no one_." Mère Perpétua was a study in pained amazement. "What!" she burst forth. "No adequate punishment? Nothing to put that brazen girl to shame for her indecent conduct? She stands here in your presence and admits to having received the letters, and answered them, to having corrupted her companion, as she might say: 'I have said thirty Aves'! Oh Reverend Mother, you are too lenient! It is unjust!" "So that is how you understand it, ma Mère? Has life taught you nothing?" "Life has taught me that sin requires punishment," she rejoined grimly. "Ma Mère, I see that I must open your eyes; those letters were not written to Ragna." "Not written to her! Why she confessed that they were hers!" "So she did, to save Astrid." "Well, that only makes it worse, she has lied outrageously, and so has Astrid--and you let them go unpunished!" "I consider that Ragna's lie is a good lie, ma Mère. A generous lie is better than a mean truth. I make a pretence of punishing her so that she may not know I understand; vicarious punishment, if suffered voluntarily, is good for the soul. As for Astrid, she is weak and foolish, she has been thoroughly frightened, and is not likely to fall again in the same direction--for the present at least. The sight of Ragna, bearing the blame that should be hers, will do more for her than any punishment you or I might inflict." Mère Perpétua gazed at her Superior in amazement; though still disapproving, she had a dim perception of the other's greatness of soul, and the insight into human nature, that had made her, while still young in years, the Head of the Community. "You may go, ma Mère, and after Benediction you will bring our two black sheep here." So dismissed, Mère Perpétua took her departure, shaking her head.