and as the inhabitants were few, one skilful mistress would easily
suffice; nor could he, at the time, procure a suitable dwelling for
more. He accepted the offer of Sister Bourgeois on the spot, and the
religieuses thanked him for even that concession, awaiting, as they
said, a happier occasion for the foundation they so eagerly desired. The
occasion, however, never presented itself, and they seemed to have some
such presentiment, as they charged Margaret Bourgeois with breach of
faith in accepting the proposal without their consent. Seeing they were
touched with a sort of holy jealousy, she pleasantly replied, that if
she had promised to go with them to Ville-Marie, she was ready to fulfil
her promise, but if she had _not_ made the promise, or if they delayed
too long, she should certainly go without them.

As soon as Mlle. Crolo (whom she so heroically saved from dishonor)
heard of her determination to cross the sea, she begged with much
earnestness to accompany her, but this M. de Maisonneuve would not
permit at the time, because he was bringing a regiment of soldiers to
the New World, for the defence of Ville-Marie. This circumstance
frightened Sister Bourgeois very much, as she found herself alone, and
without escort, in the midst of a troop of soldiers, Her modesty was
alarmed, and she sought her confessor's advice in the new danger. He
told her that to judge according to the ordinary rules of prudence, it
would be unsafe for an unmarried female to undertake a voyage of so much
consequence, unaccompanied by one of her own sex, but that in her case,
there were so many marks of a particular providence, the common rules of
prudence might be set aside, and as he knew the exalted character of M.
de Maisonneuve, he said to his penitent, confidently, "Go, repose entire
trust in the prudence of that gentleman; he will be the guardian of your
chastity, as he is one of the first chevaliers of the Queen of Angels."
But even this assurance did not calm her fears, until the Blessed Virgin