ome?

CHAPTER 11

After Father La Combe returned from Rome, well approved, and furnished
with testimonials of life and doctrine, he performed his functions of
preaching and confessing as usual. I gave him an account of what I had
done and suffered in his absence, and what care God had taken of all my
concerns. I saw his providence incessantly extended to the very
smallest things. After having been several months without any news of
my papers, when some pressed me to write, and blamed my neglect, an
invisible hand held me back; my peace and confidence were great. I
received a letter from the ecclesiastic at home, which informed me that
he had orders to come and see me, and bring my papers. I had sent to
Paris for a pretty considerable bundle of things for my daughter. I
heard they were lost on the lake, and could learn no further tidings
about them.

I gave myself no trouble; I always thought they would be found. The man
who had taken charge of them made a search after them a whole month, in
all the environs, without hearing any news. At the end of three months
they were brought to me, having been found in the house of a poor man,
who had not opened them, nor knew who brought them there. Once I had
sent for all the money which was to serve me a whole year; the person
who had been to receive cash for the bill of exchange, having put that
money in two bags on horseback, forgot that it was there, and gave the
horse to a little boy to lead. The money fell from the horse in the
middle of the market at Geneva. That instant I arrived, coming on the
other side, and having alighted from my litter, the first thing I found
was my money. What was surprising, a great throng was in this place and
not one had perceived it. Many such things have attended me. These
accounts may suffice to show the continual protection of God.

The Bishop of Geneva continued to persecute me. When he wrote, it was
with politeness and thanks for my charities at Gex; while at the same
time he said to others that I "gave nothing to that house." He wrote
against me to the Ursulines with whom I lived, charging them to hinder
me from having any conferences with Father La Combe. The superior of
the house, a man of merit, and the prioress, as well as the community,
were so irritated at this, that they could not forbear testifying it to
him. He then excused himself with a pretended respect, saying, he did
not mean it that way. They wrote to him that "I