Repeat after the Venerable Jeanne de Matel: "'Holy Virgin, this abyss of iniquity and vileness invokes the abyss of strength and splendour to praise Thy preeminent Glory.' Well, is that pretty well expressed, our friend?
Try; recite that to Our Lady and She will unbind you; then prayer will come of itself.

Such little ways are permitted by Her, and we must be humble enough not to presume to do without them." Durtal could not help laughing.
"You want me to become a trickster, a sneak in spiritual life!" said he.
"Well, where would be the harm?
Does not the Lord know when we mean well?
Does not He take note of our intentions?
Would you, yourself, repulse anyone who paid you a compliment, however clumsily, if you thought he meant to please you by it?
No, of course not." "Here is another thing," said the Abbe, laughing.

"Madame Bavoil, I saw Monseigneur this morning; he grants your petition and authorizes you to dig in as many parts of the garden as you choose." "Aha!" and amused by Durtal's surprise she went on: "You must have seen for yourself that excepting a little plot of ground where the gardener plants a few carrots and cabbages for the Bishop's table, the whole of the garden is left to run wild; it is sheer waste and of no use to anybody.

Now instead of buying vegetables, I mean to grow some, since Monseigneur gives me leave to turn over his ground, and by the same token I will give some to your housekeeper." "Thank you.

Then do you understand gardening ?" "I?
Why, am I not a peasant?
I have lived in the country all my life, and a kitchen garden is just my business! Besides, if I were in difficulties, would not my Friends Above come to advise me ?" "You are a wonderful woman, Madame Bavoil," said Durtal, somewhat disconcerted in spite of himself by the answers of a cook who so calmly asserted that she was on intimate terms with the divine Beyond..