It had also maintained a free school for poor children.

But now the heiress of the noble house of de Crespignie added a Home for Aged Women, an asylum for Orphan Girls and Nursery for Deserted Infants.

And all these were placed under the charge of the Sisters of Mercy.
Of the fifty years of this lady's life, forty had been spent in the convent where she had lived as pupil, novice, nun and abbess.

Her cloistered life had been passed in active good works, if nurturing infancy, educating orphans, cheering age, and ordering and governing an excellent academy for young ladies, can be called so.
And whatever such a life may have brought to others, it brought to this princess of the banished Orleans family perfect peace.
She stood now looking down with infinite pity on the stricken form and face of her late pupil.

She saw that some heavy blow from sorrow had crushed her.