Part 5 (1/2)
”It will never do for Clara to see this letter,” thought Miss Pemberton; ”I must take it to Mr Lerew, and ascertain what he thinks.”
She set off at once, that she might get to the vicarage and back before Clara's return. The vicar read it with knitted brow.
”You did right, my dear sister,” he said; ”it might defeat all our plans. Far better commit it to the flames. Let me think--will you permit me to take possession of the letter? good may result from it; the end, as you know, my dear lady, sanctifies the means.”
”Whatever you consider right, I of course will do,” said Miss Pemberton, giving the letter, which with the envelope the vicar put into his desk; and the lady hastened home.
”It is the aunt's doing, not mine,” he muttered to himself; ”but were the poor girl to receive this abominable production, it might destroy the result of all the training I have given her. No priest! no sacrifice! no confession! no power of absolution! What would become of the Church--what of us--if such principles were to regain their ascendancy over the minds of the people? These abominable evangelical notions must be crushed by every means in our power, or the efforts which for years we have made to introduce Catholic doctrine would be utterly lost. We must get the girl without delay to enter a convent, and the sooner she is induced to do so the better.”
Mr Lerew waited for some days before he paid Clara another visit. She had discovered that the Indian post had come in, and had brought her, as she supposed, no letter from Harry. She began to imagine all sorts of things; she saw that there were accounts of engagements with the hill-tribes--could he have gone up the country with a detachment of his regiment? or perhaps her letter had so offended him that he would not again write. Mr Lerew, when he called, perceived that she was very unhappy, and having drawn from her the cause of her grief, he a.s.sured her that there was but one way by which she could regain peace of mind, and insinuated that so bigoted a person as Captain Caulfield would in all probability discard her when he found that she was anxious to serve the Church. ”It will prove a great trial to you, my dear sister,” he said; ”but for such you must be prepared; and I would urge you to seek in the duties of a religious life that comfort and consolation you are sure to find.”
Several weeks more went by, during which the vicar's influence over poor Clara increased. No letter came from Harry or from his father.
”He has discarded me,” exclaimed Clara. ”I must seek for that peace and rest where alone, Mr Lerew a.s.sures me, I can find it, or I shall die.”
The very next day, accompanied by Mr Lerew and his wife, Clara set off to the town of --, in the neighbourhood of which was situated Saint Barbara's, as the convent was called. It had originally been a religious house, as the term is, and was encircled by a high wall, which enclosed the garden and outhouses. It was a dark, red brick, sombre pile, and the additions lately made to it had given it a thoroughly conventual appearance. The carriage drove under an archway in front of the entrance, closed on the outside, Mr Lerew got out and tugged at a large iron bell-pull, when a slide in the door was pulled back, and the face of a female, who narrowly scrutinised the visitors, appeared at the opening. Mr Lerew quickly explained their object; no further words were exchanged, and after a short delay the bars and bolts were withdrawn, and the door was opened sufficiently to allow him and his wife and Clara to pa.s.s through into a small hall, where they were left standing, while the portress by signs summoned two serving Sisters dressed in dark blue, with bra.s.s crosses at their necks, to bring in Clara's luggage. The same person then beckoning the visitors to follow, led them into a waiting-room on one side. All the time she had kept her eyes fixed on the ground, not once looking at the vicar's countenance.
Having by signs desired them to be seated on some antique-looking chairs, which with a table and writing materials were the sole furniture of the room, she retired. Poor Clara felt dreadfully oppressed, and very much inclined to beg that her trunks might be put back again into the carriage, as she wished to return home; but pride, not unmixed with fear of the remarks Mr Lerew would make, prevented her. She sat with her hand on her sinking heart, wondering whether all the members of the sisterhood would be expected to keep a perpetual silence.
”This reminds me much of the convents I have visited in France and Belgium,” observed Mr Lerew, turning to his wife. ”Our young friend will soon learn the rules of the house, and see how suitable they are, and calculated to advance the religious feelings.”
He spoke in a low tone, as if afraid of disturbing the solemn silence which reigned in the building. Some time pa.s.sed away, when the door slowly opened, and a lady habited in grey, with a large cross inlaid with ivory on her breast, glided into the room. She was of commanding figure, and, in spite of her unbecoming head-dress and the white band across her brow, she had evidently once been handsome. She smiled benignantly as she glanced at Mrs Lerew and Clara, and advancing to the vicar, bowed gracefully to him, and taking his hand, raised it to her lips; then retiring without further noticing her other guests, sank into a seat. ”I have come with my wife to introduce a young friend who is desirous of commencing, and I trust continuing, the life of a _religieuse_,” said Mr Lerew; ”and from my knowledge of your admirable sisterhood, I feel confident that she will here obtain all she desires.”
The Lady Superior now turned a piercing glance on Clara, which made her involuntarily shrink and cast down her eyes on the ground. The former did not speak till she had finished her scrutiny; she then said slowly--
”If you truly desire to embrace our holy calling, you will be gladly received, understanding that you must conform to the rules of our order in all respects. You will in the first instance enter as a postulant for a short time, during which you will wear your secular habit; after which you will become a probationer, and then, as I trust, we shall receive you as a confirmed Sister on your vowing obedience to the three fundamental rules of our order. Are you prepared to remain with us at once?”
”Certainly, certainly,” exclaimed Mr Lerew; ”Miss Maynard has come with that especial object in view. He who puts his hand to the plough must not turn back, nor would she, I am sure, wish to do so.”
”What I would urge upon you,” said the Lady Superior, ”is complete self-surrender, and strict observance of the rule of holy obedience; without that you cannot expect to enjoy spiritual life, nor can the affairs of the community be properly carried on.”
”I will endeavour to the best of my power to observe the rules of the order,” said Clara, in a trembling voice.
”Of course she will, of course,” observed Mr Lerew; ”it will be her glory and pride to do so. Oh what a beneficent arrangement is that by which a poor frail woman or layman can, by opening his or her heart to the priest, obtain all the instruction or advice for which their souls yearn!”
”You will soon be accustomed to the quiet life we lead within these walls,” observed the Lady Superior, turning to Clara, without noticing Mr Lerew's remark; ”and I will invite you now to accompany me, when I will make you known to the Deane, who will initiate you into the rules and observances to which you will at once conform; and you may now bid farewell to your friends, for they will excuse me, as my official duties require my attention.”
Clara rose, and put out her hand to take that of Mr Lerew. Instead, he bade her kneel, and placing his hands above her head, uttered a benediction. She felt inclined to embrace Mrs Lerew--not that she had any great affection for her, but it seemed as if Mrs Lerew was the only link between her and the world she was leaving; at that moment, however, the Lady Superior, taking her hand, led her towards the door.
”May I request an interview with Dr Catton, should he be now living here?” asked Mr Lerew.
”Our spiritual adviser is at present in residence,” answered the Lady Superior, ”and I will mention your wish to see him, should you be able to remain till he is at leisure.”
”Oh, certainly, certainly. I must not hurry Dr Catton; but as it is a matter of much importance, I much wish to consult him. I will wait his pleasure,” said Mr Lerew.
Without having shown any act of courtesy to Mrs Lerew, the Lady Superior left the room, still holding fast to Clara's hand.
”Had I expected to be so treated, I should not have come,” exclaimed Mrs Lerew, as the door closed. ”If these are conventual manners, I hope that Clara may not adopt them. What caused the Lady Superior to act as she did?”
”If you insist on knowing, you must understand that she probably considers priests ought to be celibates, and therefore looks upon you in no favourable light,” answered the vicar, with some acerbity in his tone.
Mrs Lerew was about to retort, when the door opened, and the spiritual adviser of the establishment, Dr Catton, entered. He was a small thin man, with sallow complexion, and that peculiar pucker about the mouth which seems a characteristic of those who hold his views. The two gentlemen were well known to each other.