OF THE FOREST. 39

“ Daughter,” I said, “you are sad; what
has afflicted you? Open your whole heart
to me, and be assured that the counsel I shall
give you shall be to your advantage.” She
immediately burst into tears, and speaking
passionately, made it appear that injustice
was done to her by her companions, especially
by Fanchon.

“‘Fanchon,” she added, “who was once my
dearest friend, is turned against me, and that
because she is jealous of me. Some persons
think me handsomer than ghe is, and she
cannot endure a rival, and she bears herself
maliciously and spitefully towards me; and
if she can find a flaw in my conduct, she is
pleased, and makes it a rule to exhibit it, and
to make little errors appear in the light of
serious offences.”

I shall not repeat all I said to her on this
subject. No doubt my advice, though in
some points good, was mingled with error, for
I remember well that, after having pointed
out to her the beauty of charity, and recom-
mended the exercise of it towards her com-
panions, I added, “For know you not, my
daughter, that charity remits sin, and gives