prove to every one, that no punishment would be effectual on her.
Sometimes this singular woman would appear to be actuated by opposite
feelings and motives; for although she usually delighted in drawing
others into difficulty, and has thrown many a severe penance even upon
her greatest favourites; on other occasions she appeared totally
regardless of consequences herself, and preferred to take all the blame,
anxious only to shield others.

I have repeatedly known her to break silence in the community, as if she
had no object, or none beyond that of causing disturbance, or exciting a
smile, and as soon as it was noticed, exclaim: "Say it's me, say it's
me!"

Sometimes she would even expose herself to punishments in place of
another who was guilty; and thus I found it difficult fully to
understand her. In some cases she seemed decidedly out of her wits, as
the Superior and priests commonly preferred to represent her; but
generally I saw in her what prevented me from accounting her insane.

Among her most common tricks were such as these: She gave me the name of
the "Devout English Reader," because I was often appointed to make the
lecture to the English girls; and sometimes, after taking a seat near
me, under pretence of deafness, would whisper it in my hearing, because
she knew my want of self-command when excited to laughter. Thus she
often exposed me to penances for a breach of decorum, and set me to
biting my lips, to avoid laughing outright in the midst of a solemn
lecture. "Oh! you devout English Reader!" would sometimes come upon me
suddenly from her lips, with something in it so ludicrous that I had to
exert myself to the utmost to avoid observation.