Presently she said, not laughing now either, but with a ripple like the
laughter of running water in her voice, "You can't think how I like it
all, how amusing some of it is! One has to do 'manual labor'--washing
pots and pans, and cleaning floors; I believe it is supposed to be a
little humiliating, and meant to keep us humble. And you know how used
I am to it. I'm afraid of its making me conceited--I do it so much
better than the Sisters who never did anything like that at home. Mother
Prioress is always afraid, too, that I shan't eat enough, and that I
shall say too many prayers. I fell into a pond we have in our garden,
and she was terrified, thinking I must be drowned; no one could drown in
it without standing on her head. I was trying to get a water-lily, so I
fell in and came out frightfully muddy and smelly, too.... You must be
kind to Sarella; she is so good, and has been so good to me. I shall
never forget what you and she did for me. Write to her if you go away,
and tell her all about yourself."