The opposition from Therese’s uncle to her entering Carmel disappears as he relates how the Lord communicated to him that she was a "little flower whom Our Lord has chosen and wants to gather to Himself.” Therese’s soul sang until she discovered that the Superior of the Carmel would not let her enter until she was twenty-one, though he added that the Bishop could instruct him to allow her to enter sooner.

Therese, though feeling that “heavy clouds were once more darkening my soul” nonetheless continued her studies, her love of God growing. She even offered to God that she might consent to be cast into Hell so that there there would be a least one creature there who loved Him. In the meantime she also looked after two young girls, under six, with whom she learned a deeper understanding of a child’s soul, as they happily took in her lessons regarding Jesus and heaven. She reflected on their innocent souls, like soft wax, “ready for any impression, evil ones, unfortunately, as well as good,” and Jesus saying: "It were better to be thrown into the sea than to scandalize one of these little ones." (Matt. 18:6)