nothing but the clothing she wore, and the package she carried, her
companions of the coach made her feel that they regarded her as an
adventuress, who ought not be admitted into honest society. When they
arrived at Orleans, the host would not permit her to remain at the inn,
although she begged humbly and tearfully for shelter during the night,
offering to sit by the fire, if they would not give her a room. Seeing
her reduced to the extremity of staying all night in the street the
driver of the conveyance offered his room to her. He was prompted to do
so, however, not by charitable, but by criminal motives. In her
ignorance of the man's villany, she accepted the offer, and remained on
her knees in prayer till the sun rose next day. Several times during the
night, this person and his depraved associates attempted to force open
her door, but Margaret Bourgeois was safe under the protection of Mary,
her powerful guardian, and their repeated attempts to effect an entrance
proved unsuccessful. In the morning she discovered another smaller door
in the room, concealed by a curtain. This opened directly into the scene
of the past night's debaucheries, and then she saw the horrors she
escaped. Full of gratitude to the Immaculate Mother of God, who had so
signally preserved her, she prayed and wept together. Very early in the
morning she started off alone, and unobserved, to continue her journey,
and secured a passage in the boat on the Loire, which had twelve other
passengers. Among them there was only one woman, who carried an infant
in her arms. Sister Bourgeois had the address to engage the entire party
in exercises of piety during the river journey, which lasted several
days, as the distance from Orleans to Nantes was almost one hundred
leagues. Each day they recited together the office of the Blessed
Virgin, and the rosary, after which she read a chapter from a spiritual
book, on the duties of a Christian life, to which all listened
attentively. One Saturday evening she obtained permission from the
captain of the boat to go ashore, and enjoy the privilege of assisting