40 THE FLOWERS

spiritual life to the soul?” by which assertion
I set charity in the place of the Saviour, and
gave to our good deeds the power of redeem-
ing us from the consequence of our evil ones ;
whereby I denied the words of Holy Scrip-
ture ; for are we not taught “that a man is
not justified by the works of the law, but by
the faith of Jesus Christ ?” Gal. ii. 16.

In reply to what I had said, Susette an-
swered with a frankness which was natural
to her. She acknowledged that she had a
considerable portion of pride, and that she
could neither bear a rival amongst her school-
fellows, nor refrain from despising those whom
she thought her inferiors. She spoke again of
Fanchon as of one whom she looked upon with
envy and jealousy ; and amongst others whom
she heartily despised, she mentioned Aimée.
In reply to all which, I told her that pride
was counted by the church among the seven
deadly sins. “ Pride,” I said, “is an inordinate
love and esteem of our own worth and ex-
cellence : it ig a mortal sin, and can only be
remitted by hearty contrition and the sacra-
ments of baptism and penance.”