Almighty God in His inscrutable wisdom had so arranged matters that the Institute of Sister Bourgeois should be born in a stable, like His own divine Son, the Sisters being much happier there than if they were lodged in a palace. As soon as circumstances permitted after her return, she took occasion to revisit the chapel she attempted to build before her departure, and found to her sorrow what she had foreseen, that the greatest part of the lumber was in a state of decay, and quite worthless. Yet, as she could not yield to despair, she collected from the debris sufficient material to build a sort of shed, to be used alternately as a chapel and a class-room until they could do better. The piety and fervor of the new teachers attracted the attention of the whole colony, and the schools in a short time became overcrowded, so that Sister Bourgeois was induced to undertake the erection of a building large enough to meet their wants. She had neither ground nor money, but Divine Providence provided both, as M. de Maisonneuve, whose devotion to the Blessed Virgin always prompted him to assist her, had already given a deed of the property they then occupied, and added to it fifty rods adjoining, with the clause that if the Congregation decided, in the future, to build on a more extended plan, for which the present site would not be suitable, the said fifty rods were to be deeded to the hospital, in the vicinity, all which was legally arranged in the month of February, 1658. M. Gabriel Souart, superior of the Seminary, donated another piece of ground, upon which the convent stands today. Many other gifts of real estate became also the property of Sister Bourgeois, and were chiefly in the suburbs of the city, which was at last becoming extensive. As soon as the plan for the building was completed every one hastened to offer assistance, as an educational institution was considered a public blessing, and it was evident that God inspired His faithful servant to undertake the work. The building was so arranged that one side should be occupied by the Sisters, the other being fitted up for the boarders and schools. It was not fully completed when Sister Bourgeois reflected that in the then unsettled state of things, and for the security of the institution, it would be necessary to obtain letters patent from the King. The reflection was a wise one, but to obtain the letters would expose her to much personal humiliation, and also to great dissipation and loss of time. At first it seemed possible to arrange matters by procuring the approbation of the home authorities, that is to say, of the Bishop and Governor-General. So she determined to set out for Quebec, to present her petition to these distinguished persons, hoping to have little difficulty in making them understand the utility of the establishment. Messrs. Souart and Perrot gave her letters of recommendation, and the inhabitants of Montreal, who knew the great