they spoke to her confidentially of the expected mission they had so
much at heart, frequently asking if she did not wish to be one of those
selected for Ville-Marie. This was plainly hinting that they would not
object to her joining their community. But, though God _did_ intend her
for Canada, He did _not_ intend her for that Order; therefore she made
no other reply to their proposal than that she desired to do the will of
God with her whole heart, whenever and wherever He would please to
manifest it to her. Although she had hitherto met with refusals on
applying for admission to religious communities, yet she was not
discouraged, and the proposal of the Canadian mission only incited her
to learn the will of God, with more ardor than before. She sought the
advice of her spiritual directors, knowing that their decisions were the
usual means God makes use of in the direction of souls. M. Jandret being
consulted, advised her to think seriously on the matter, as it seemed to
him it might be the will of God she should go to Canada. However,
diffiding in his own light, he recommended her to consult M. Pertuis
another experienced priest, who was of the same opinion with the former,
and both advised her to ask advice of the Bishop of Troyes. This
distinguished prelate being absent at the time, she had recourse to M.
Rose, his vicar general, who counselled her at once to go to Canada, as
it seemed to be the will of God she should. Having thus taken every
precaution that prudence suggested to learn the divine will, Sister
Bourgeois no longer doubted of her vocation for Canada, but God had not
yet declared either the time or the manner of her going. It was natural
to suppose she would accompany the religieuses of the Congregation, but
the Great Disposer of events ordained differently. During all this time,
the savage Iroquois had repeated their attacks on the people of Montreal
with the wildest fury. Men, women, and children fell beneath the
tomahawk, and in 1651, M. de Maissonneuve was obliged to return a second
time to France for military assistance. On these occasions he never