careful." (Oct. 14, 1604.)

From this moment, having her constantly before his eyes, he associates
her not only with his religious thoughts, but, what astonishes us more,
with his very acts as a priest. It is generally before or after mass
that he writes to her; it is of her, of her children, that he is
thinking, says he, "_at the moment of the communion_." They do penance
the same days, take the communion at the same moment, though separate.
"_He offers her to God, when he offers Him His Son!_" (Nov. 1, 1605.)

This singular man, whose serenity was never for a moment affected by
such a union, was able very soon to perceive that the mind of Madame de
Chantal was far from being as tranquil as his own. Her character was
strong, and she felt deeply. The middle class of people, the citizens
and lawyers, from whom she was descended, were endowed from their birth
with a keener mind, and a greater spirit of sincerity and truth, than
the elegant, noble, but enfeebled families of the sixteenth century.
The last comers were fresh; you find them everywhere ardent and serious
in literature, warfare, and religion; they impart to the seventeenth
century the gravity and holiness of its character. Thus this woman,
though a saint, had nevertheless depths of unknown passion.

They had hardly been separated two months when she wrote to him that
she wanted to see him again. And indeed they met half-way in
Franche-Comte, in the celebrated pilgrimage of St. Claude. There she
was happy; there she poured out all her heart, and confessed to him for
the first time; making him the sweet engagement of entrusting to his
beloved hand the vow of obedience.

Six weeks had not passed away before she wrote to him that she wanted
to see him again. Now she is bewildered by passions and temptations;
all around her is darkness and doubts; she doubts even of her faith;
she has no longer the strength of exercising her will; she would wish
to fly--alas! she has no wings; and in the midst of these great but sad
feelings, this serious person seems rather childish; she would like him
to call her no longer "madam," but his sister, his daughter, as he did
before.

She uses in another place this sad expression,--"There is something
within me that has never been satisfied."--(Nov. 21, 1604.)

The conduct of St. Francois deserves our attention. This man, so
shrewd at other times, will now understand but half. Far from inducing
Madame de Chantal to ado