[wood] an URSULINE EPIC 33 



captives among the Indians as the great sanctuary of tlie " pale-face 

 virgins " in Quebec. 



Forty-two years of comparative peace followed the return of the 

 bishop from the Tower. The life of cloister, school and chapel went on 

 with little disturbance from the outside world. Indeed, the outside world 

 of Quebec was more moved by convent interests in 1739 than the con- 

 vent was disturbed by worldly intrusions. A whole year had been devoted 

 within the cloisters to preparing a fêie worthy of the centennial year 

 of the Ursuline order in Canada. The conununity now consisted of 

 Êfty-three nuns. Exactly fifty-three had died during the century. And 

 their annalist rejoiced to think there was an evenly divided number to 

 malce an antiphon of praise in earth and Heaven. All pious observances 

 were prolonged; all relaxations were shortened; silver plate was melted 

 down to make a ^sanctuary lamp ; and a general " retreat " heralded the 

 approach of the famousi first of August. The canons of the cathedral 

 celebrated ; the Jesuit Fathers preached ; the Bishop constantly attended ; 

 and Pope Innocent X. granted an indulgence to all who took part — 

 clergy, nuns and laity alike. The Indians were not forgotten. A 

 special High Mass was celebrated for them, at which they sang the 

 Kyrie and Credo. A feast of ^ such abundance as to recall the best of 

 those given to their predecessors by La Mère Marie brought their part;, 

 of the ceremonies to a triumphant close. It was their last great enter- 

 tainment at the Ursulines'. They had receded much further since the 

 jubilee of 1689. At the time of the next jubilee the world was going 

 very differently, far and near. The French Eevolution had begun; a 

 British sovereign had held the allegiance of Canada for thirty years; 

 and the Indians were only at home beyond tlie ever-expanding frontiers 

 of that Western Country, which was, in its turn, to be succeeded by a still 

 farther-off Far West ,before the bi-centennial year had come. 



The second quarter of i^e 18th century was the halcyon day of the 

 old régime at Quebec. The kindly Marquis de Beauharnois governed 

 the colony for fifteen years. A great '• Father in God " was then 

 bishop, Count Henri de yPontbriand. The seigneurs lived in homely 

 affluence among their censitaires. One of them enjoyed the manor and 

 vast domains of the baronies of Portneuf , and Becancour. His house 

 and chapel bore the insignia of nobility. Eoyal letters patent gave him 

 " the right of larms, heraldic honours, rank and precedence, like the 

 ^other barons of the Kingdom of France.^' His daughter Anne had all 

 the colony could give her in the way of social amenities and distractions. 

 Yet three years of society disgusted her with what she called the " gay 

 follies " of \ " bowing and courtseying in the middle of an illuminated 



Sec. II., 1908. 3. 



