IT is true that you are too much self-absorbed, too keenly 
perceptive through a touchy fastidiousness, too ready to 
be wounded ; but you must bear this inward cross as 
you would bear external crosses. It is much harder 
than they are. We suffer far more willingly from the 
unreasonableness of others than from our own. Pride 
becomes desperate; it is wounded at being wounded, 
and the double sting is a double evil. There is but one 
remedy, namely, to turn our imperfections to account in 
using them to our own shame and humiliation, to un- 
deceiving ourselves, and to mistrust of self. 

You ought to thank God for making you feel that the 
necessary work of winning M - is one of your first 
duties. Renounce all your own repugnances, so as to 
enable yourself to teach him how to renounce his sin. 

You are not mistaken in looking upon me as a sincere 
and unfailing friend ; but you will raise a hindrance to 
that grace which should be your one effectual help if you 
do not give good heed only to seek God in me, only to 
see His Light as we see the sun's rays reflected through 
a dusky fragile glass. You will not find peace either in 
society or in solitude if you seek for indulgence and 
consolation to your irritated self-love. At such times, 
the sulky solitude of pride is even worse than society. 
If you are truthful and lowly, society will neither con- 
strain nor irritate you, and you will seek solitude for 
God's Sake only.