I arose and dressed, inspirited by the good omen, and
descended to the chapel ; the nuns had all gone, and I seated
myself, taking my Bible from my pocket, which I read until
Gertrude, Belle and Donda joined me ; his nurse having enough
trouble to keep the latter quiet during prayers ; notwithstand-
ing the awe he evidently stood in of the priest or his surplice^
I know not which.
330 VIOLET KEITH.
After breakfast I went with Gertrude to walk round tbe
grounds. In this walk I found that I had at first entered br
the door at the back of the house, the principal entrance bein^
at the other side of the building, and very different from the
other I entered by. Here was a portico, the pillars of whidL,
fourteen in number, were of a gigantic size, with beautifbllj
finished base and capital. Above the door, inside the pordoo^
was a niche, in which stood a figure, as large as life^ of th^
Virgin with the infant Jesus in her arms, and on either side,
placed in smaller niches, were figures of St. Joseph and St
Bride — ^the patron swnt of the convent. Over the whole d
the house in front were niches containing figures of saints or
angels, the huge portico occupying almost the entire breadth,
and with the broad steps ascending to it, giving quite a grand
appearance to the building. The western side of the conveat
was occupied exclusively by the nuns, and never entered by
any one, except themselves and their visitors — the lay nuDS
doing the menial work.
When we returned from our walk, I told Gertrude she
must find me some work, as I would get sick with ennui if
I had nothing to do.
