"she had veneration for my virtue." I
believe what contributed not a little to this change was, that she had
heard that three persons had offered suit to me, and that I had refused
them, although their fortune and quality were quite superior to mine.
She remembered how she had upbraided me on this head, and I answered
her not a word, whereby she might understand that it depended on myself
to marry to advantage. She began to fear lest such rigorous treatment,
as hers had been toward me, might excite me to deliver myself by such
means, with honor, from her tyranny, and was sensible what damage that
might be to my children. So she was now very tender to me on every
occasion.

I fell extremely ill. I thought that God had accepted of my willingness
to sacrifice all to him, and required that of my life. During this
illness, my mother-in-law went not from my bedside; her many tears
proved the sincerity of her affection. I was very much affected at it,
and thought I loved her as my true mother. How, then, should I leave
her now, being so far advanced in age? The maid, who till then had been
my plague, took an inconceivable friendship for me. She praised me
everywhere, extolling my virtue to the highest and served me with
extraordinary respect. She begged pardon for all that she had made me
suffer, and died of grief after my departure.

There was a priest of merit, a spiritual man, who had fallen in with
temptation of taking upon him employment which I was sensible God did
not call him to do. Fearing it might be a snare to him, I advised him
against it. He promised me he would not do it, and yet accepted it. He
then avoided me, joined in calumniating me, gradually fell away from
grace, and died soon after.

There was a nun in a monastery I often went to, who was entered into a
state of purification, which everyone in the house looked on as
distraction. They locked her up and all who went to see her called it
phrenzy or melancholy. I knew her to be devout I requested to see her.
As soon as I approached, I felt an impression that she sought purity. I
desired of the Superior that she should not be locked up, nor should
people be admitted to see her, but that she would confide her to my
care. I hoped things would change. I discovered that her greatest pain
was at being counted a fool. I advised her to bear the state of
foolishness, since Jesus Christ had been willing to bear it before
Herod. This sacrifice gave her a calmness at