er when she dies.[5] She will be sorely puzzled, for
this little Sister, amiable as she is, has certainly never done
anything worth speaking about." The Infirmarian, who had also
overheard the remark, turned to Therese and said: "If you relied
upon the opinion of creatures you would indeed be disillusioned
today." "The opinion of creatures!" she replied; "happily God has
given me the grace to be absolutely indifferent to that. Let me
tell you something which showed me, once and for all, how much it
is worth. A few days after my Clothing, I went to our dear
Mother's room, and one of the Sisters who happened to be there,
said on seeing me: 'Dear Mother, this novice certainly does you
credit. How well she looks! I hope she may be able to observe the
Rule for many years to come.' I was feeling decidedly pleased at
this compliment when another Sister came in, and, looking at me,
said: 'Poor little Soeur Therese, how very tired you seem! You
quite alarm me. If you do not soon improve, I am afraid you will
not be able to keep the Rule very long.' I was then only sixteen,
but this little incident made such an impression on me, that I
never again set store on the varying opinion of creatures."

On another occasion someone remarked: "It is said that you have
never suffered much." Smiling, she pointed to a glass containing
medicine of a bright red colour. "You see this little glass?" she
said. "One would suppose that it contained a most delicious
draught, whereas, in reality, it is more bitter than anything else
I take. It is the image of my life. To others it has been all rose
colour; they have thought that I continually drank of a most
delicious wine; yet to me it has been full of bitterness. I say
bitterness, and yet my life has not been a bitter one, for I have
learned to find my joy and sweetness in all that is bitter."

"You are suffering very much just now, are you not?" "Yes, but
then I have so longed to suffer." "How it distresses us to see you
in such pain, and to think that it may increase!" said her novices.

"Oh! Do not grieve about me. I have reached a point where I can no
longer suffer, because all suffering is become so sweet. Besides,
it is quite a mistake to trouble yourselves as to what I may still
have to undergo. It is like meddling with God's work. We who run
in the way of Love must never allow ourselves to be disturbed by
anything. If I did not simply live from one moment to another, it
would be impossib