The weeds had to be extirpated before the seeds of nobler flowers could be sown.
When, however, she had at last brought under the child's unruly disposition and convinced her that it was of no use to play the hypocrite or tell lies, inasmuch as there is a Being Who sees behind all our thoughts, Who is everywhere present and watchful, Whom nothing escapes, and Who watches over us even when we are asleep, so that we are bound from very necessity to be just and honest; when she had brought her charge as far as this, I say, Teresa began gradually to teach her how conversion could have its pleasant side likewise.

Teresa's confidence grew proportionately with Fanny's candour.

She frequently left the child to herself, ceased to supervise her allotted tasks, showed her that she believed what she said, and thereby gradually exalted and purified her whole disposition.

Perceiving that her rigorous mentor trusted her, Fanny began to discover what self-respect means.

And what a precious treasure that is! and what a pity more attention is not paid to it! Teresa never alluded to the child's relatives; on the contrary, whenever her thoughts seemed to be turning that way she would divert them into a different direction.