Page:Life and life-work of Mother Theodore Guerin Foundress.djvu/35

Rh had not her careful home-training borne its fruits. She grew up with a charming disposition, preserving at the same time all the strength of her vivacious and remarkably firm character.

Mademoiselle Thérèse did not get interested in her studies, and the restraint imposed upon her was so irksome that she sometimes escaped from her tasks and spent the day roaming about among the hills. Before the end of the first year this so-called school was closed, to the great delight of the children, especially Madame Guérin's little daughter.

A very special providence for the child at this time was the arrival of a distant relative, a seminarian, who entered the family to await opportunities of continuing his ecclesiastical studies. He became greatly interested in his little cousin, and volunteered to become her private tutor. This pleased the child's fancy; it also proved a source of incalculable benefit to her, her comprehensive mind expanding wonderfully under this new influence.

The Guérin home bordered on the sea. The house was on an eminence whence a gentle slope led to the shore, distant not more than the tenth of a mile. A fine view of the vast expanse was commanded from the windows having an eastern aspect, a sight well calculated to move the depths of the soul and inspire themes for poetic enjoyment. The sea had great attractions for Mademoiselle Guérin; she would spend hours on the strand watching the waves as they advanced or receded, or at night lie awake contemplating the moonlight playing upon the glassy surface. The vast body of water impressed her forcibly with its