‘Thanks, thanks, ma mere!’ she cried.  ’Now I am resolved; now will I go and speak to Martin—­of something in my heart.’

‘What will you do, my child?’ I said, for as the light increased I could see the meaning in her face, and that it was wrought up for some great thing.  ’Beware, Agnes; risk not my son’s happiness by risking thyself; thou art more to Martin than all the world beside.’

‘He loves thee dearly, mother,’ she said.  My heart was comforted.  I was able to remember that I too had had my day.  ’He loves his mother, thank God, but not as he loves thee.  Beware, ma fille.  If you risk my son’s happiness, neither will I forgive you.’  She smiled upon me, and kissed my hands.

’I will go and take him his food and some linen, and carry him your love and mine.’

‘You will go, and carry one of those heavy baskets with the others!’

‘Mother,’ cried Agnes, ’now you shame me that I have never done it before.’

What could I say?  Those whose turn it was were preparing their burdens to set out.  She had her little packet made up, besides, of our cool white linen, which I knew would be so grateful to my son.  I went with her to the turn of the road, helping her with her basket; but my limbs trembled, what with the long continuance of the trial, what with the agitation of the night.  It was but just daylight when they went away, disappearing down the long slope of the road that led to Semur.  I went back to the bench at the door, and there I sat down and thought.  Assuredly it was wrong to close up the chapel, to deprive the sick of the benefit of the holy mass.  But yet I could not but reflect that the bon Dieu had suffered still more great scandals to take place without such a punishment.  When, however, I reflected on all that has been done by those who have no cares of this world as we have, but are brides of Christ, and upon all they resign by their dedication, and the claim they have to be furthered, not hindered, in their holy work:  and when I bethought myself how many and great are the powers of evil, and that, save in us poor women who can do so little, the Church has few friends:  then it came back to me how heinous was the offence that had been committed, and that it might well be that the saints out of heaven should return to earth to take the part and avenge the cause of the weak.  My husband would have been the first to do it, had he seen with my eyes; but though in the flesh he did not do so, is it to be doubted that in heaven their eyes are enlightened—­those who have been subjected to the cleansing fires and have ascended into final bliss?  This all became clear to me as I sat and pondered, while the morning light grew around me, and the sun rose and shed his first rays, which are as precious gold, on the summits of the mountains—­for at La Clairiere we are nearer the mountains than at Semur.