"
"Excuse me, sister," interrupted Noel, seemingly very much vexed;
"excuse me for not having anticipated your request; but you see I am
rather confused."
And, taking a hundred-franc note out of his pocket-book, he laid it on
the mantel piece.
"Thanks, sir," said the nun; "I will keep an account of what I spend. We
always do that," she added; "it is more convenient for the family. One
is so troubled at seeing those one loves laid low by illness. You have
perhaps not thought of giving this poor lady the sweet aid of our
holy religion! In your place, sir, I should send without delay for a
priest,--"
"What, now, sister? Do you not see the condition she is in? She is the
same as dead; you saw that she did not hear my voice."
"That is of little consequence, sir," replied the nun; "you will always
have done your duty. She did not answer you; but are you sure that she
will not answer the priest? Ah, you do not know all the power of the
last sacraments! I have seen the dying recover their intelligence and
sufficient strength to confess, and to receive the sacred body of our
Lord Jesus Christ. I have often heard families say that they do not wish
to alarm the invalid, that the sight of the minister of our Lord might
inspire a terror that would hasten the final end.
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