eat capacity and most exalted piety,
excellently qualified for the instruction of youth. This was a singular
dispensation of God's providence and love toward me, and proved the
first means of my salvation. She loved me tenderly, and her affection
made her discover in me many amiable qualities, which the Lord had
implanted in me. She endeavored to improve these good qualities, and I
believe that had I continued in such careful hands, I should have
acquired as many virtuous habits as I afterward contracted evil ones.

This good sister employed her time in instructing me in piety and in
such branches of learning as were suitable to my age and capacity. She
had good talents and improved them well. She was frequent in prayer and
her faith was as great as that of most persons. She denied herself
every other pleasure to be with me and to instruct me. Such was her
affection for me that it made her find more pleasure with me than
anywhere else.

If I made her agreeable answers, though more from chance than from
judgment, she thought herself well paid for all her labor. Under her
care I soon became mistress of most studies suitable for me. Many grown
persons of rank could not have answered the questions.

As my father often sent for me, desiring to see me at home, I found at
one time the Queen of England there. I was near eight years of age. My
father told the Queen's confessor that if he wanted a little amusement
he might entertain himself with me. He tried me with several very
difficult questions, to which I returned such pertinent answers that he
carried me to the Queen, and said, "Your majesty must have some
diversion with this child." She also tried me and was so well pleased
with my lively answers, and my manners, that she demanded me of my
father with no small importunity. She assured him that she would take
particular care of me, designing me for maid of honor to the princess.
My father resisted. Doubtless it was God who caused this refusal, and
thereby turned off the stroke which might have probably intercepted my
salvation. Being so weak, how could I have withstood the temptations
and distractions of a court?

I went back to the Ursulines where my good sister continued her
affection. But as she was not the mistress of the boarders, and I was
obliged sometimes to go along with them, I contracted bad habits. I
became addicted to lying, peevishness and indevotion, passing whole
days without thinking on God; though He w