“Vocation for the stage?” “Yes, Mother Hilda,” the Prioress said, turning to the Mistress of the Novices, “the word vocation isn’t used in our limited sense, but for anything for which a person may have a special aptitude.” “That day of your party—dear me, how long ago it seems, Louise! How much has happened since then? You have sung how many operas? In whose company are you now?” Before they were aware of it the two singers had begun to chatter of opera companies and operas. Ulick Dean was secretary of the opera company with which Louise was travelling. They were going to America in the autumn. The conversation was taking too theatrical a turn, and the Prioress judged it necessary to intervene. And without anybody being able to detect the transition, the talk was led from America to the

