Kitty, impressed she hardly knew why, observed the grave lady who asked her these amiable questions. Within the convent walls the infirmary was crowded with sick and dying soldiers, and of the orphans in the nuns' charge a quarter were dead. And yet, all round about, the epidemic was raging and the people, terrified and restless, were kept in check but by the strong will of a soldier who was more than half a brigand. The parlour was very quiet, so that you could hardly believe that you were in the midst of a populous city.

It was a conversation, trivial but friendly, which gained a peculiar savour from the circumstances. She asked her if she had been in France and if she did not find the climate of Hong-Kong trying. The Mother Superior asked Kitty how long she had been in China and if the journey from Hong-Kong had greatly tired her. Joseph made them for you herself this morning.' 'You must eat the madeleines,' said the Mother Superior, 'because Sister St. The convert who had opened the door for them now came in with a tray on which we're Chinese cups, a teapot, and a little plate of the French cakes called madeleines. Waddington because two or three times when we had no money at all and did not know how we were to feed our orphans Mr. She looked at him with lingering, friendly eyes. 'I can at all events say that I never drink except to excess.' The Mother Superior laughed and translated into French for Sister St. 'I wish you could say that you never drink, Mr. 'Oh, come, ma mere, you speak as if I were a confirmed drunkard.' She smiled and there was a hint of malice in her grave eyes. Waddington prefers whisky, but that I am afraid I cannot offer him.' But I must make my excuses if it is served in the Chinese fashion. 'I know you English like tea,' said the Mother Superior, 'and I have ordered some. Joseph, smiling still but silent, stood at the side but a little behind the Superior. With a dignified affability she motioned to her visitors to take chairs and herself sat down. It was so frank that it was not uncivil you felt that here was a woman whose business it was to form an opinion of others and to whom it never occurred that subterfuge was necessary. Kitty felt that the Superior's eyes held her in a long and unembarrassed look of appraisal. 'It is a great pleasure to me to make the acquaintance of the wife of our good and brave doctor.' Fane?' She spoke in English with a good deal of accent, but with a correct pronunciation, and she gave the shadow of a bow.

Then she came forward and held out her hand to Kitty. She stood for an instant on the threshold and a grave smile hovered upon her lips as she looked at the laughing Sister and Waddington's puckered, clownish face. The door opened, to Kitty's fancy not quite naturally but as though it swung back of itself on its hinges, and the Mother Superior entered the little room. SINGLE- AND THREE- PHASE ALTERNATING CURRENTS

Phase 10 directions in english