PRELUDE.

Whothatcaresmuchtoknowthehistoryofman,andhowthemysteriousmixturebehavesunderthevaryingexperimentsofTime,hasnotdwelt,atleastbriefly,onthelifeofSaintTheresa,hasnotsmiledwithsomegentlenessatthethoughtofthelittlegirlwalkingforthonemorninghand-in-handwithherstillsmallerbrother,togoandseekmartyrdominthecountryoftheMoors?OuttheytoddledfromruggedAvila,wide-eyedandhelpless-lookingastwofawns,butwithhumanhearts,alreadybeatingtoanationalideauntildomesticrealitymetthemintheshapeofuncles,andturnedthembackfromtheirgreatresolve.Thatchild-pilgrimagewasafitbeginning.Theresa’spassionate,idealnaturedemandedanepiclife:whatweremany-volumedromancesofchivalryandthesocialconquestsofabrilliantgirltoher?Herflamequicklyburnedupthatlightfueland,fedfromwithin,soaredaftersomeillimitablesatisfaction,someobjectwhichwouldneverjustifyweariness,whichwouldreconcileself-despairwiththerapturousconsciousnessoflifebeyondself.Shefoundhereposinthereformofareligiousorder. ThatSpanishwomanwholivedthreehundredyearsago,wascertainlynotthelastofherkind.ManyTheresashavebeenbornwhofoundforthemselvesnoepiclifewhereintherewasaconstantunfoldingoffar-resonantactionperhapsonlyalifeofmistakes,theoffspringofacertainspiritualgrandeurill-matchedwiththemeannessofopportunityperhapsatragicfail