loset, where,
dwelling upon the goodness of her intention and the wickedness of its
execution, she spent the whole night alone in tears and lamentation.

But instead of humbling herself, and recognising the powerlessness
of our flesh, without God's assistance, to work anything but sin, she
sought by her own tears and efforts to atone for the past, and by her
own prudence to avoid mischief in the future, always ascribing her sin
to circumstances and not to wickedness, for which there is no remedy
save the grace of God. Accordingly she sought to act so as never again
to fall into such wrongdoing; and as though there were but one sin that
brought damnation in its train, she put forth all her strength to shun
that sin alone.

But the roots of pride, which acts of sin ought rather to destroy,
grew stronger and stronger within her, so that in avoiding one evil she
wrought many others. Early on the morrow, as soon as it was light, she
sent for her son's preceptor, and said--

"My son is beginning to grow up, it is time to send him from home. I
have a kinsman, Captain Monteson, (3) who is beyond the mountains with
my lord the Grand-Master of Chaumont, and he will be very glad to admit
him into his company. Take him, therefore, without delay, and to spare
me the pain of parting do not let him come to bid me farewell."

3 Monteson was one of the bravest captains of his time; as
the comrade of Bayard, he greatly distinguished himself by
his intrepidity in Louis XII.'s Italian campaigns. Some
particulars concerning him will be found in M. Lacroix's
edition of _Les Chroniques de Jean d'Anton_.--B. J.
Respecting the Grand-Master of Chaumont, also mentioned
above, see _ante_, vol ii., notes to Tale XIV.

So saying, she gave him money for the journey, and that very morning
sent the young man away, he being right glad of this, for, after
enjoying his sweetheart, he asked nothing better than to set off to the
wars.

The lady continued for a great while in deep sadness and melancholy,
and, but for the fear of God, had many a time longed that the unhappy
fruit of her womb might perish. She feigned sickness, in order that she
might wear a cloak and so conceal her condition; and having a bastard
brother, in whom she had more trust than in any one else, and upon whom
she had conferred many benefits, she sent for him when the time of
her confinement was drawing nigh, told him her condition (but withou