Love and Duty in The Painted Veil

A quick excerpt from chapter 68 of Somerset Maugham's 1925 novel The Painted Veil. The words are spoken by the Mother Superior of the French convent in the Chinese village where a young married woman begins to come to herself after being caught by her husband in an adulterous affair. These are words of farewell from the Mother Superior, who does not know the true situation of Kitty, the main character.

"Good-bye, God bless you, my dear child." She held her a moment in her arms. "Remember that it is nothing to do your duty, that is demanded of you and is no more meritorious than to wash your hands when they are dirty; the only thing that counts is the love of duty; when love and duty are one, then grace is in you and you will enjoy a happiness which passes all understanding." The convent door closed for the last time behind her.

I recommend this novel. It also contains a powerful account of 'backsliding' (i.e., recidivism) and the relation of that to simul iustus et peccator.