334 PRIEST AND PURITAN. [1645-51 



an Ursuline convent. Yet, regaidless of the keen 

 air, soldiers, Jesuits, servants, officials, women, all 

 of the little community who are not cloistered, are 

 abroad and astir. Despite the gloom of the times, 

 an unwonted cheer enlivens this rocky perch of 

 France and the Faith ; for it is New-Year s L)ay, 

 and there is an active interchange of greetings and 

 presents. Thanks to the nimble pen of the Father 

 Superior, we know what each gave and what each 

 received. He thus writes in his private journal: — 

 " The soldiers went with their guns to salute 

 Monsieur the Governor ; and so did also the inhab- 

 itants in a body. He was beforehand with us, 

 and came here at seven o'clock to wish us a happy 

 New- Year, each in turn, one after another. I 

 went to see him after mass. Another time we 

 must be beforehand with him. M. Giifard also 

 came to see us. The Hospital nuns sent us letters 

 of compliment very early in the morning ; and the 

 Ursulines sent us some beautiful presents, with 

 candles, rosaries, a crucifix, etc., and, at dinner- 

 time, two excellent pies. I sent them two images, 

 in enamel, of St. Ignatius and St. Francis Xavier. 

 We gave to M. GifFard Father Bonnet's book on 

 the life of Our Lord ; to M. des Chatelets, a little 

 volume on Eternity ; to M. Bourdon, a telescope 

 and compass ; and to others, reliquaries, rosaries, 

 medals, images, etc. I went to see M. Giifard, 

 M. Couillard, and Mademoiselle de Repentigny. 

 The Ursulines sent to beg that I would come and 

 see them before the end of the day. I went, and 

 paid my compliments also to Madame de la Pel trie, 



