A Heroine of France

hich she had passed, I saw her eyes kindle with pleasure and admiration as she was ceremoniously led into the great banqueting hall, where

s missed nothing of the stately grandeur of the house, the ceremonious and courtly welcome of the Treasurer, its master, or the earnest, wistful gaze of his little daughter Charlotte, who stood holding fast to

out this trying day, and became a simple girl again. With a quick grace of movement she crossed the space which divided her

sister at home who loves me, but I had to go away and leave her. Perhaps I may never see her again. Try to love

e like the Archangel Michael, as many thought, than a creature of human flesh and blood. But instead of showing any fear, the child flung her arms about the neck of the Maid, and pressed kisses upon her face--her headpiece she had removed at her entrance

in with me. It is so long since I fe

ch, so now in the walls of the city, the Maid fared as simply as the rudest of her soldiers. She mixed water with her wine, took little save a slice or two of bread, and though to please her hosts she ju

as shown her she shrank a little at its size and luxury, and, still holding the

country girl, all this grandeur weighs me down. If I might but sleep with this little one in my arms--as the little sister

le white bedroom of the child of the house, which opened from that of the mother, and the bond which grew up between the three was so close and tender a one, that I trow the good Treasurer and h

most hospitably by the Treasurer, who sat up with us far into the night after our arrival, listening with earnest attention to all we could tell him r

had no faith in any miracle, until that I saw her with mine own eyes; and then some voice in my heart--I know not how to speak more plainly of it--or some wonderful power in her glance or in her voice, overc

ue--who have fought valiantly throughout the siege, and who have great influence with the soldiers they lead, and these men are full of disgust at the thought of being led by a woman--a girl--and one of low degree. They would be willing for her to stand aloft and prophesy victory for their arms, but that she should arm herself and lea

id set our teeth on edge; yet was it w

y. "A low-born woman! Would they speak thus of the Blessed Virgin? And yet acc

poke with grave

es something different by virtue of that mission from what he or she was before. Yet we may not

rt and life, and for childlike faith and obedience, for the honour of receiving a divine commission. There the parallel stops; for there can be no comparison regarding the

her and strengthen her, for I fear me she will have foes to contend with from within as well as from without the city; and as

they would delight to follow and to honour. Yet when I walked out upon the following morning--a sunny first of May--to have a good look round at the position of the fortifications, the ring of English bastille

. But I heard enough to be sure that what the Treasurer had said last evening was likely to be true. The soldiers were disposed to scoff at being led by a woman, and the officers to grumble at having had to bear

s they must have originally been, to erect these great towers for their own shelter, and from which to batter the town with their cannon and great stone balls, when the French in gre

the south side of the river, he had destroyed the greater part of the bridge, thus making it impossible for the enemy to cross and take possession of the town. But he had not stopped the erection of those threatening t

ld soldier about it, he shrugg

sought in vain to lead them. You should have heard La Hire swearing at them. O-he, O-he, he is a master of the art! Some of us would have followed him; but the rest--one might as well have asked a flock of sheep to go against the wolf, telling them they were fifty to one! Not

battle!" I said, laughing. "Have you seen the w

I care not whether she be woman, witch, or angel; if she will bring back heart and courage, and make men again of all these

e the spirit of the army, I doubt not but that a few days will see such

quoth the old soldier, look

swered, as I turned and too

importance were permitted to attend; and here it was that she received the fi

, fully armed, save for her headpiece, and speaking in her clear, sweet, full tones, wherein power and confidenc

rmy of relief, which had been forced to return to Blois to cross the river, and which could not arrive for a few more days. What madness would she next propose? Well, at least La Hire and Dunois were there to curb her folly and impetuosity. A chit of a girl like t

sser officers, when they began to speak, they scarce knew how to contain themselves, and restrain thei

ct! How would she bear this contradiction and veiled contempt, she who had

er cheek for a moment; but never once did anger cloud her brow, or impatience or contempt mar the wonderful serenity of her beautiful eyes. Only once did she speak during the whole of the debate, after her

reproach, the Maid's own wonderful smile shone s

thank you beforehand for the brave, true service which you shall presently render me. B

t knowing what her words portended. But she gave n

ay; but the time will come when I shall not have to plead with you--you will follow gladly in my wake. For the rest, it would perchance be a sorrow to my brave men, who have marched so far with me, not to partake in the victory whic

e given her her way; but she did not. She put her white velvet cap, with its nodding plumes, upon her head, and taking with her the chiefest of the generals and her own immediate ret

ted her face with a wonderful rapt expression upon it. T

here. I trow there is trouble among the men. Traitors are at work to daunt their hearts. Go and say that the Maid bids the

ady, and before the v

will stand here and watch you. No hurt

through the English lines; and scarce could we believe our eyes when we noted that

whispered the men who stood by; and her fame flew f

bold captain, of his own initiative, vowed he would behead every prisoner they had in the city if the man were not given up at the command of the Maid. I am very sure no such act of summary vengeance would have been permitted, but the man was instantly released and came and told us ho

er words. On the third day of her stay in the city she caused her great white banner to be carried forth before her, and riding a white horse, clad in her silver armour, and claspin

ed them; but it was a notable soldier, whom the French called Classidas, though I have been told that his real name was Sir W

m to have mercy upon himself and his soldiers, as else many hundreds of them, and hims

fort, and worse still, by gross insults from Classidas himself, hurled ac

at him; mournfully she turn

s!" she prayed; and for the rest of

without bloodshed!" she mu

her feet; she set down the little Charlotte, who was playing in her arms; she seized her weapons, her page flew to bring her

ied (how did she know? none had told her), "

om leaving the shelter of the town. She smiled at him, and

n ourselves there, and watch our brave army march past.

ines, we halted, and made a great avenue for the army from Blois to pass through. All gazed in wonder at the Maid. All

with our Maid when the real bat