Now, as her opening mind drank in such instruction as came to her, she deeply felt the claims of God upon her love and service.  Under the influence of a remarkable dream, she openly expressed her determination to lead a religious life; and one day, with unguarded frankness, she avowed her readiness to become a martyr for God.  Her fellow-pupils at the convent, like Joseph’s brethren, did not appreciate either her dream or her avowal.  With girlish jealousy they laid her devout aspirations at the door of pride, and proceeded to test her professions in a cruel manner.  They persuaded her that God had taken her at her word and called her suddenly to undergo the martyrdom for which she had declared her readiness.  Her courage did not give way at their summons.  So, after allowing her a short time for preparatory prayer, they led her into a room made ready for the purpose, where a cloth was spread on the floor, and an older girl stood behind her, lifting a large cutlass, and seemingly prepared to chop off the child’s head.  Who can wonder that at this too realistic sight the little girl’s valour gave way?  She cried out that she must not die without her father’s leave.  The girls triumphantly asserted that this was a paltry excuse, and let her go, with the scornful assurance that God would not accept as a martyr one who had so little of a martyr’s courage.

Poor little Jeanne Marie!  This unjust ordeal had a painful effect on her joyous spirit.  Child though she was, she saw clearly that, like Simon Peter, she had been too ready and bold in her avowals of devotedness to her Lord.  She thought that by her cowardice she had offended God, and that now there was little likelihood of winning His favour and enjoying His support.  Her health, always delicate, could not but be injured by this unpleasant episode, and after a while she was taken home and again left to the care of the servants.  Placed a second time at the Ursuline convent, she was happy in being under the care of her half-sister,—­a good creature, who devoted her excellent abilities to the loving training of Jeanne in learning and piety.  While here, the little girl was often sent for by her father; and at his house, on one occasion, she found Henrietta Maria, the widowed queen of England, who was so much pleased with her pretty ways and sprightly answers that she tried to induce M. de la Mothe to place his daughter in her care, intimating that she would make her maid of honour to the princess.  The father, much to the queen’s annoyance, declined the honour, and Madame Guyon, in after years, considered that perhaps she owed her salvation to his judicious refusal.