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 a person  speak  ill  of  others,  it  is  necessary  to  show,  at least  by  silence,  by  a  gloomy  countenance,  or  by  downcast eyes,  that  you  are  not  pleased  with  the  conversation. Conduct yourself  always  in  such  a  way  that  no  one  will in future  dare  attack  the  character  of  another  in  your presence. And when  it  is  in  your  power,  charity  requires of you  to  take  the  part  of  the  person  who  is  detracted. Thy lips  are  as  a  scarlet  lace.  My  spouse,  says  the  Lord, I will  have  thy  lips  as  a  scarlet  lace;  that  is,  according to the  explanation  of  St.  Gregory  of  Nyssa,  your  words must be  full  of  charity,  so  as  to  cover  as  much  as  possible the  defects  of  others,  or  at  least  to  excuse  their intention, if  their  actions  be  inexcusable. "Excuse the intention,"  says  St.  Bernard,  "if  you  cannot  excuse  the act." The Abbot  Constabile,  as  Surius  relates,  was called "  The  covering  of  his  brethren." For this  holy monk, as  often  as  he  heard  any  one  speak  of  the  defects of others,  sought  to  cover  and  excuse  them. Such, too, was the  practice  of  St. Teresa. Of her  the  nuns  used to say,  that  in  her  presence  their  character  was  secure, because she  would  defend  them.

II. Be careful  never  to  mention  to  any  sister  that  another has  spoken  ill  of  her;  for  tale-bearing  of  this  kind sometimes occasions  disputes  and  aversions  which  last for a  long  time. Oh! how frightful  the  account  which tale-bearers must  render  to  God! The sowers  of  discord are objects  of  abomination  in  his  sight. Six things there  are  that  the  Lord  hateth,  and  the  seventh  his  soul detesteth.  The  seventh  is  the  man  that  soweth  discord among   brethren.     An  uncharitable  word    that  proceeds