in their power for our recovery from the fatigue we had undergone. They assured us the place we had left was very dangerous. Next morning we were obliged to return on foot to the litter, for that man would not bring it to us. On the contrary he fell on us with a shower of fresh insults. And to consummate his base behaviour, he sold me to the post, whereby I was forced to go the rest of the way in a post-chaise instead of a litter.

In this equipage I arrived at Alexandria a frontier town, subject to Spain, on the side of the Milanese. Our driver took us, according to their custom, to the post-house, I was exceedingly astonished when I saw the landlady coming out not to receive him, but to oppose his entrance. She had heard there were women in the chaise, and taking us for a different sort of women from what we were, she protested against our coming in. On the other hand, the driver was determined to force his entrance in spite of her, Their dispute rose to such a height, that a great number of the officers of the garrison, with a vast mob, gathered at the noise, who were surprized at the odd humour of the woman in refusing to lodge With whatever earnestness I intreated the post to take us to some other house, he would not; so obstinately was he bent on carrying his point. He assured the landlady we were persons of honour and piety too; the marks whereof he had seen. At last, by force of pressing instances, he obliged her to come to see us. As soon as she had looked at us, she acted as the robbers had done: She relented at once and admitted us.

us.

No sooner had I alighted from the chaise, than she said to us, "Go shut yourselves up in that

"chamber

"chamber hard by, and do not stir, that my son "may not know you are here; for as soon as he "knows it he will kill you." She said it with so much force, as did also the servant maid, that, if death had not so many charms for me, I should have been ready to die with fear. The two poor girls with me were under frightful apprehensions. When any stirred, or came to open the door, they thought they were coming to cut their throats. In short they continued in a dreadful suspense, between life and death, till next day, when we learned that the young man had sworn to kill any woman who lodged at the house; because a few days before an event had fallen out, which had like to have ruined him; a woman of a bad life having there privately murdered a man in some esteem, that had cost the house a heavy fine: And he was afraid of any more such persons coming, and not without reason.

A

CHAP. XXIV.

FTER such sorts of adventures, and others which it would be too long to recite, I arrived at Verceil. I went to the inn where I was very ill received. I sent for father La Combe, who I thought had been already apprised of my coming thither, by the Ecclesiastic whom I had sent before, and who would be of so much service This Ecclesiastic was only a little while arrived. How much better on the road should I have fared, if I had had him with me! For in that country they look upon ladies, accompanied with Ecclesiasticks, with veneration, as persons of honour and piety. Father La Combe came in a strange fret at my arrival, GoD so permitting it:

to me.

He

He could not hide it from me. He said that every one would think I was come after him, and that would injure his reputation, which I found in that country was very high. I had had no less pain to go thither. It was necessity only which had obliged me to submit to such a disagreeable task. The Father received me with coolness, and in such a manner as let me sufficiently see his sentiments, and indeed redoubled my pain. I asked him if he required me to return, adding, "that, if he did, I "would go off that moment, however oppressed "and spent, both with fatigues and fastings.' He replied, "he did not know how the Bishop "of Verceil would take my arrival, after he had σε given over all his expectations of it, after I had

so long, and so obstinately, refused the oblig"ing offers he had made me; since which he no longer expressed any desire to see me.'

IT seemed to me then as if I were rejected from the face of the earth, without being able to find any refuge in it, and as if all creatures were combined to crush me. I passed that night without sleep, not knowing what course I should be obliged to take, being persecuted by my enemies, and a subject of disgrace to my friends.

WHEN it was known at the inn, that I was one of Father La Combe's acquaintance, they treated me with the greatest respect and kindness; for they esteemed him as a saint. The Father knew not how to tell the Bishop of my arrival, and I felt his pain more than my own. As soon as that Prelate knew that I was arrived, he sent his niece who took me in her coach, and carried me to her house; but things were only done out of ceremony; and the Bishop, not having seen me yet,

knew

knew not what to think of a journey so very unexpected, after I had thrice refused, though he sent expresses on purpose to desire me to come to him. He was out of humour with me. Nevertheless, as he was informed that my design was not to stay at Verceil, but to go to the Marchioness of Prunai's house, he gave orders for me to be well treated. He could not see me till EASTER SUNDAY was over, for he officiated all the eve and all that day. After it was all over, he came in a chaise to his niece's house to-see me; and though he understood French hardly any better than I did Italian, he was very well satisfied with the conversation he had with me. He ap peared to have as much favour for me as he had had of indifference before. The second visit gained him entirely.

He conceived as strong a friendship for me as if I had been his sister: And his only pleasure, amidst his continual occupations, was to come and pass half an hour with me in speaking of God. He wrote to the Bishop of Marseilles to thank him for having protected me in the persecution there. He wrote to the Bishop of Grenoble; and he omitted nothing to manifest his affectionate re, gard for me. He now seemed to think alone of finding out means to detain me in his diocese. He would not hear of my going to see the Mar chioness of Prunai. On the contrary he wrote to her to come and settle with me in his diocese. He sent Father La Combe to her, on purpose to exhort her to come; assuring her that he would unite us all to make a congregation. The Marchi oness entered into it readily, and so did her daugh ter too. They would have come with Father La Combe, but that the Marchioness was sick. The

Bishop was active and earnest in collecting and establishing a society of us, and found several pious persons and some very devout young ladies, who were all ready to come to join us: But it was not the will of God to fix me thus, but to crucify me yet more.

THE fatigue of travelling made me fall sick. That girl also whom I brought from Grenoble fell sick. Her relations who were a covetous set of people, took it in their heads that, if she should die in my service, I should get her to make a will in my favour. They were much mistaken: For far from desiring the property of others, I had given up my own. Her brother, full of this apprehension, came with all speed; and the first thing he spoke to her about, though he found her recovered, was to make a will. That made a great noise in Verceil; for he wanted her to return with him, but she refused. I advised her to do what He contracted a friend

her brother desired her. ship with some of the officers of the garrison, to whom he told ridiculous stories, as that I wanted to use his sister badly: He pretended she was a person of quality, while she was only of a low birth. They gave out what I was still afraid of, viz. That I was come after Father La Combe. They persecuted him even on my account. The Bishop was much troubled at it, but could not remedy it. The friendship he had for me increased every day; because, as he loved GOD, so he did all those whom he thought desired to love him. As he saw me so much indisposed, he came to see me with assiduity and charity, when at leisure from his occupations. He made me little presents of fruits and other things of that nature. His relations were jealous of it, saying, "I was come A a a

to