You know the proverb, 'Who goes hunting loses his seat by the hearth.'" "That is all very well to say, but--" "But, our friend, the Lord foresaw your case, when, with reference to such distractions which flutter about the soul like this, He replied to the Venerable Jeanne de Matel, who complained of such annoyances, that she should imitate the hunter, who, when he misses the big game he is seeking, seizes the smaller prey he may find." "Ay, but even then he must find it!" "Go and live in peace, then," said the Abbe.

"Do not fret yourself with wondering whether your soul is enclosed or no; and take this piece of advice: You are accustomed--are you not ?--to repeat prayers that you know by heart, and it is especially under those circumstances that wandering supervenes.

Well, then, set those prayers aside, and restrict yourself to following, very regularly, the prayers of the services in the convent-chapel.

You are less familiar with them, and merely to follow them you will be obliged to read them with care.

Thus you will be less likely to have a divided mind." "No doubt," replied Durtal.