78 ‘The French in Prince Edward Island

the care of souls. These gentlemen when left alone imag- ine that they have the tiara on their heads and wish to be out and out little bishops; to be supreme in temporal as in spiritual matters; and if any one resists them it is treason against the Divine Being. The capital crime against the Director, according to the priest, is to have had these people work several holy days to lodge them- selves and others—an absolute necessity in the founda- tion of an establishment.‘

Looking at the matter from a distance of almost two centuries one is inclined to agree with the secular officers in the controversy and to exonerate Roma. The future career of the Abbé strengthens this con- clusion; St. Ovide, apparently in doubt as to the possibility of permanent peace between two uncom- promising temperaments, so closely confined, ar- ranged with the Abbé to become a missionary to the — Micmacs. But he found this opportunity for service little to his liking. At first he complained that he could not learn the language and finally that he could not accustom himself to life among savages. Seeing that his heart was not in the New World, St. Ovide gave him permission to return to France where it is to be hoped he found the seminary for which de Pensens thought he was fitted and, also, rest for his spirit, far removed from the unsympa- thetic Roma.*

Four years later Roma was again in conflict with the ghostly powers. This time he complained to the

7 C11 IV, Vol. 16, p. 34 8 C11 IV, Vol. 15, p. 228.