Belle-Rose — page 240: what you’re looking at

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

structions shall be observed; I know too well what the house of which I have the direction owes him to fail there- in. +9 **Madame,’’ replied Monsieur de Charny, ‘‘this letter must have told you that Monsieur de Louvois had in some sort confided to me the guardianship of the person whom - he sends you. His intention is that she shall take the vail in two or three months, unless she submits to his will pee fore that time.’ “She shall take it, monsieur. ’ | ‘She is obstinate, and ne eae ee inclined to worldly things. Of -course you will treat her kindly, for it is in’ your pious and soft character, madame; but temper this extreme kindness by a little firmness. Believe me, she will the more readily find the road to safety.’’ Monsieur de Charny spoke some minutes still in this tone, then withdrew, not without profound reverences. At the end of a quarter of an hour, Suzanne heard thé carriage which had brought him rolling away. She gave in thought a last adieu to the things of life, and followed a sister who came to seek her. The superior of the Convent of Benedictine Nuns, who was called, between. the walls of the convent, Mother Evangélique du Cocur-de-Marie, had been known in the world as-Madame de Riége. She was a creature of Mon- sieur de Louvois. “My daughter,’’ said she to Suzanne, with a pale smile, ‘‘Monsieur de Louvois, who wishes you well, informs me that he has chosen our house for your retreat. On the threshold of this pious house die the noises of the world. Rejoice, my daughter, that you have come here.”’ “T would rejoice, madame, if I had come here—of my own free will; but I have been brought here by force, and I imagine that this house is, for me, a sort of Bastile. ; Mother Evangélique bit her lip: but she continued, more softly: ‘“You are not in a prison; this is the house of God, and — you are under the protection of the holy mother of Christ. You are young, my daughter, and subject to the illusions of the world. But one learns in our profound peace to re- eret nothing, and I hope that you will one day enter the holy flock of which God has confided to me the direction. Adieu, my daughter. ' The superior withdrew, and soon after a sister came to take Suzanne to the room which was destined for her. While these things were transpiring at the convent in the . - _ ‘THE CONVENT IN THE RUE DU CHERCHE-MIDI, 229 a Eomicbooks (Efe)