A Heroine of France

les are past and gone! What future is there for hapless

now? What would even St. Louis of blessed memory feel, could he witness the changes wrought by only a century and a half? Surely it were enough to cause them to turn in their graves! The north lying supine at the feet of the English conqueror; licking his hand, as a dog licks that of his master, lost to all sense of shame that an English infant in his

t already threatened? And how could it be saved if nothing could rouse the King fr

r Guy in Germany, and he was on his way to the Court at Chinon; for we were all of the Armagnac party, loyal to our rightful monarch, whether King or only Dauphin still, since he had not been crowned, and had adopted no truly regal state or authority; and we were earnestly desirous of seeing him awaken f

orses' feet sank deep and noiseless in the sod, and our fellows had fallen far behind, so that their laughter and talk no longer broke upon our ears. The dreamy stillness of the autumn w

holy; and perchance this was why Sir Guy's words had lacked the ring of hopeful bravery that was natural to one

thin its scope something of miracle and of mystery. I have thought of it by day, and dreamed of

m for above a year, till he joined us the previous Wednesday at Nancy, having received a letter I did send to him from thence. He came to beg of me to visit him at his kinsman's house, the Seigneur Robert de Baudrico

r and more thoughtful than had been his wont. Now I did look

ugh the question h

acrament early in the day. I was in my lodging overlooking the market place, and hard by the Castle which as you know hangs, as it were, over the town, guarding or threatening it, as the case

the village of Domremy, had come to him a few days since, saying it had been revealed to her how that she was to be used by the God of Heaven as an instrument in His hands for the redemption of France; and sh

and with a look betwixt laughter and amaze, "and wh

at at least he would see his niece before sending her away; and since by this time he was himself somewhat curious to see and to question this village maiden, who came with so strange a tale, he had told Laxart to

--they talk great swelling words, but the world wags on its way in spite of them. They are no prophets; they ar

rk-blue eyes had taken a strange shining, "I can only speak of that which I did

heard her speech. What looked

mmers--or thereabouts--would feel on being introduced into the presence of such a company. We surmised that she would shrink into the very ground for shame. One gentleman declared that it was cruel to ask her to face so many strangers of condition so much more exalted than her own; but De Baudricourt cried out, 'Why man, the wench is clamouring to be taken to the King at his Court! If she cannot fac

our mirth," spoke I, and h

there were, like myself, who noted it. The far end of the hall was dim and dark; but yet we saw her clear as she moved forward. Upon her face was a shining such as I have seen upon none other. She wore the simple peasant dress of her class, with the coif upon her head; yet it seemed to me--ay, and to others too--as though she was

oath, "but you look, good Bertrand, as though you

as visited through His saints. I have seen the reflection of His glory in huma

ould not but impress us deeply. Our eyes begged him to

then lifted herself up to her full height and looked straight at De Baudricourt without boldness and wi

n; for He has given me a message to him which none else may bear; and He has told me that you

audricourt, not laughing now, but pulling

ore. 'He that is my Lord and your Lord and the Lord of this realm of France. But it is His holy will that the Dauphin shall be its King, and that he shall drive back the English, and

s; yet it seemed to me she scarce saw us. Her glance did go beyond,

Bertrand had not been deceived by some witchery of fair face and graceful form; for Bertrand, albeit a man of thews a

e was tall and very slender; but beautiful--ah yes!--with the beauty which this world cannot give; a beauty which silenced every flippant jest, shamed every scoffing thought, turned ridicule into wonder,

the Seigneur de Bau

then he suddenly asked of her, 'And wh

Orleans be in sore straight; but help shall come, and the English shall fly before the sword of the Lord. Afterwards shall the Dauph

ld?' asked De Baudricourt then, answeri

speaking as one who dream

, 'and have you naught but voices to

d; and I know that he has drawn it for the deliverance of France, and that though he has chosen so humb

in, and I vow that whether it were trick of summer sunshine or no, the light about the maiden seemed to grow br

Dauphin, Robert de Baudricourt,' she sud

gazing at the maiden as though he would read her very so

things shall come to pass. So get you home, and see what your father and mother say to all this, and whe

maiden dreamer would not thank him for that word! A deliverer of princes t

r. I looked to see her face fall, to see sparks of anger flash from her eyes, or a great disappointment cloud the serene beauty of

ge enfant; va souvent a l'eglise"; that was their first message to me, when I was but a child; and now you say the same to me--be a g

in. As one man we rose, and bowed before her, as she retired from the hail with the simple, stately grace of a young queen. Not till the door had closed behind her did we bethink us that it was

ave heard nought so strange! What think you of it yourself, good Bertrand? For by my troth you spe

s of men, and may raise up a deliverer for us, even as He did in the days of old for His chosen people? Is His

fell into thought, and th

where is she now? Is she still abiding content at

the place. She has brothers and a sister. She is known in the village as a pious and gentle maid, ever ready to tend the sick, hold vigil for the dead, take charge of an ailing child, or do any such simple service for the neighbo

ricourt of her mission?

fttimes he does sink into a deep reverie; and disjointed words

if she has been fasting and praying and dreaming, till she knows not what is true and what is her own imagining, why, time will c

as I say, he doth not forget it, and I th

at hope is there even for such remnants of his kingdom as still remain faithful south of the Loire? The English will have them all. Already they call our King in mockery 'the King of Bourges;' soon even that small domain

in a low voice, "and if she speaks sooth, must not she and w

for deliverance from the foe through hard fighting by loyal men marching under the banner of their King. Truth we all knew well that little short of a miracle would arouse the indolent and discouraged Charles, cowed by the English foe, doubtful of his own

ouleurs, if we were not to be benighted in the forest ere we could reach that place. We halt

Majesty of this maid and her mission, until such ti

riendly words we parted, and Bertrand and I, with one servant behind

and the witchery of the evening hour fell upon my heart, "I would that I could

the face; I saw his eyes glow an

ean de Metz?" he said, for so I am

e is no thought of mockery in my he

in thought and

Domremy; but whether or no we see the Maid