L E T T E R S

476divine love) x that in your present circumstances, the one proof of her love for youwould be for her to renounce all earthly pleasures, and to give herself to God (asyou desire to do), becoming, e.g. a Sister of Mercy, or some other Sister. Thiswould be the finest and most appropriate way to repair the evil that has existed tonow, and the best way for her to find peace in the future.But, for this, you need the permission of her mother. You would have togo to her and ask her forgiveness. May God help you by supporting this thought,if its fulfillment is to be for his glory. If it is impossible, do not make thisproposition to her in vain. And, for your part, do what is your duty: Send her backto her mother, and turn your own thoughts to conversion. My first advice to you,then, is definitely to separate from her. You can no longer attend the school atOrleans, for it is not possible that no one else besides Fr. Dąbrowski would learnof your present life.The administration will ultimately find out; consequently, your futureposition in Orleans would be bad. An you cannot petition the government to stayin Orleans for any other reason except to go to school. Therefore, I have notpresented the petition 516 you asked me to presen; especially since it would have tobe signed by you. What, then, can I do? A little later I will obtain permission foryou to go to Lunel, where my good friend Adam Celiński is located. You will findin him a brother and a teacher. Your past errors and mishaps, which might causeothers to avoid you, will, I am sure, bind him all the more closely to you. I willwrite to him about you, and you can be sure that he will receive you most kindly.He will teach you the basic lessons you need to know; and then we will see whatwe can do. But, you cannot write a petition from Orleans to change your place ofstay, that is, for permission to go to Lunel; neither can you wait in Orleans for thereply. You must leave Orleans as soon as possible! In accord with your passport,you must go to Cahors. When you get there, we will submit the petition (which Iwill write and send to you, so that you can re-write it) for permission to move toLunel. It is no longer possible to do anything else.516 A petition to the authorities at Orleans for permission to stay in this town as a student in Fr.Dąbrowski’s school for emigrants.