Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 287: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

HER ROYAL LOVER. | | 279 of the music of the regiment of the guards! All, then, was joy and ostentation—and to-day? The aspect of the meditative nuns in their woolen robes, wearing upon their breast the large cross of the crucifixion and at the left side the rosary, froze her soul. Suddenly, the shrill sound of a hunting-horn is heard; the echoes round about reverberate it from space to space. This known signal, this loved sig- nal, makes every eye raise hitherto kept obstinately lowered. “It is the post-boy,” said the mother superior, near to whom Najeska Ivanowna had been placed. A furtive blush stained the pale wan face of the un- happy young woman. “That which astonishes me,” pursued the abbess, — “is that he comes at an hour which is unusual for him.” Then, turning to one of the sewing-nuns: “Sister Marie-Madeleine, go and ask the attendant sister what this may be.” Najeska Ivanowna, all tremulous, was pitiful to behold. “You do not eat, madam,” said the mother su- perior, seeing the princess’ plate remain full. Some moments had flown when Sister Marie- Madeleine entered. Quite low, very low, she said some words in the mother superior’s ear. She, after having listened, turned to Madame de Mineleko. “It is a message brought to you, madam, by a special courier, from the capital of Thessaly,” said she. At this news Najeska Ivanowna saw something like a cloud pass before her eyes. She arose, totter- ing, feeling her knees bend under her, and pain: fully quitted the refectory, Eomicbooks.com