A Heroine of France | Page 3

dark-blue eyes had taken a strange shining, "I can only speak
of that which I did see and hear. What the future may hold none can say.
God alone doth know that."
"Then you saw this maid--and heard her speech. What looked she
like?--and what said she?"
"I will tell you all the tale. We were gathered there in the great hall.
There were perhaps a score of us; the Seigneur at the head of the
council table, the Abbe Perigord on his right, and the Count of La
Roche on his left. There were two priests also present, and the chiefest
knights and gentlemen of the town. We had all been laughing gaily at
the thought of what a village maid of but seventeen summers--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 face a score of simple
country nobles here, how can she present herself at Chinon? Let her
learn her place by a sharp lesson here; so may she understand that she

had best return to her distaff and spindle and leave the crowning of
Kings to other hands!' And it was in the midst of the roar of laughter
which greeted this speech that the door opened slowly--and we saw the
maid of whom we had been talking."
"And she doubtless heard your mirth," spoke I, and he bent his head in
assent.
"I trow she did," he answered, "but think you that the ribald jests of
mortal men can touch one of the angels of God? She stood for a
moment framed in the doorway, and I tell you I lie not when I declare
that it seemed to all present as though a halo of pure white light
encircled her. Where the light came from I know not; but many 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 habited in rich apparel.
Perchance it was that when one had seen her face, one could no longer
think upon her raiment. If a queen--if an angel--if a saint from heaven
stood in stately calm and dignity before one's eyes, how could we think
of the raiment worn? We should see nothing but the grandeur and
beauty of the face and form!"
"Mort de Dieu!" cried Sir Guy with his favourite oath, "but you look,
good Bertrand, as though you had gazed upon some vision from the
unseen world!"
"Nay," he answered gravely, "but I have looked upon the face of one
whom God has visited through His saints. I have seen the reflection of
His glory in human eyes; and so I can never say with others that the
days of miracles are past."
Bertrand spoke with a solemnity and earnestness which could not but
impress us deeply. Our eyes begged him to continue, and he told the
rest of his tale very simply.
"She came forward with this strange shining in her eyes. She bent

before us with simple reverence; but then lifted herself up to her full
height and looked straight at De Baudricourt without boldness and
without fear, as though she saw in him a tool in the hand of God, and
had no other thought for him besides.
"'Seigneur,' she said, 'my Lord has bidden me come to you, that you
may send me to the Dauphin; for He has given me a message to him
which none else may bear; and He has told me that you will do it,
therefore I know that you will not fail Him, and your laughter troubles
me not.'
"'Who is your Lord, my child?' asked De Baudricourt, not laughing
now, but pulling at his beard and frowning in perplexity.
"'Even the Lord of Heaven, Sire,' she answered, and her hands clasped
themselves loosely together whilst her eyes looked upward with a smile
such as I have seen on none other face before. '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 that the