- love, which did me more good than
corporal penance.
HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VII
At prayer I was for a long time near a
Sister who used to handle incessantly
either her Rosary-beads or some other
thing; perhaps none heard it but myself,
for my hearing is extremely acute, but
I cannot say how it tormented me! I
should have liked to turn my head and
look at the culprit so as to make her
stop that noise: however in my heart
I knew it was better to bear it patiently,
for the love of God in the first place,
and also to avoid giving pain.
I kept quiet therefore, but was sometimes worked up to fever-heat and obliged to make simply a prayer of endurance. Finally I sought out the means of suffering with peace and joy, at least in my innermost soul; I tried to like the teasing little noise. Instead of endeavouring not to hear it—a thing impossible—I listened with fixed attention as if it had been a delightful concert;
