As to the Fourth Article, the instruction of young girls. To take boarders is contrary to the spirit of our Institute. Our Blessed Father never approved of it. I do not know if you will find amongst his letters one which he wrote to a superior who had been approached on this subject by her Bishop. The Book of Customs permits indeed that three young girls, but not more, between the ages of ten and twelve, whose parents destine them for the Religious life, should be instructed and trained for it. If therefore one could manage to give satisfaction by arranging such instructions as they desire in the parlour to young girls, and to some friends, that could be done on feast-days, and on one day in the week besides, but to act otherwise would be contrary to the Institute. Such is my humble opinion, since you desire to have it.[B] We received your letters yesterday, and will answer them as soon as we can, but the bearer only gave us time to open them. We shall have the answers ready to send you on the first opportunity that presents itself. FOOTNOTES: [A] This foundation was made from Lyons by M. de Villars, whose brother, Mgr. de Villars, Archbishop of Vienne, presided at the installation of the Sisters at Condrieu, January 1st, 1630. [B] The Little Sisters, of whom St. Jane Frances herself deemed it sometimes necessary to increase the numbers, have long since been superseded by small secular schools. The needs of the times, and the solicitations of the Bishops, under direct obedience to whom St. Francis wished his daughters always to remain, impelled the Mother Superiors of various monasteries, including that of Annecy, to deviate from the original design of the founders in so far as to open schools. But where this departure from the original Rule is not found necessary, the houses continue to be purely contemplative. It is interesting to note that on the deathbed of the Venerable Mother Chappuis, her daughters desiring to know her dying wish in reference to their own school, she said: "It neither interferes with the silence, the regularity, nor the solitude of the Sisters, and is neither against the Rule, nor against the spirit of the Institute." We are told that at Troyes, where this venerable servant of God died, the Community, apart from the few engaged in teaching, was absolutely ignorant of what passed in the school, knowing neither the names nor the numbers of the school-children. LXXXII. _To M. Poiton,[A] at Chambery._ Vive [+] Jésus! ANNECY, _Feb. 2nd, 1630._ MY GOOD AND VERY DEAR BROTHER,