Her voice sank a little, and was broken by sobs, and I made out no more of her words.  Then I came to myself.  I reflected that I had been intruding upon a mystery of God—­and what might my punishment be?  I was afraid, and went deeper into the wood.  Then I carved a mark in the bark of a tree, saying to myself, it may be that I am dreaming and have not seen this vision at all.  I will come again, when I know that I am awake and not dreaming, and see if this mark is still here; then I shall know.

Chapter 7 She Delivers the Divine Command

I heard my name called.  It was Joan’s voice.  It startled me, for how could she know I was there?  I said to myself, it is part of the dream; it is all dream—­voice, vision and all; the fairies have done this.  So I crossed myself and pronounced the name of God, to break the enchantment.  I knew I was awake now and free from the spell, for no spell can withstand this exorcism.  Then I heard my name called again, and I stepped at once from under cover, and there indeed was Joan, but not looking as she had looked in the dream.  For she was not crying now, but was looking as she had used to look a year and a half before, when her heart was light and her spirits high.  Her old-time energy and fire were back, and a something like exaltation showed itself in her face and bearing.  It was almost as if she had been in a trance all that time and had come awake again.  Really, it was just as if she had been away and lost, and was come back to us at last; and I was so glad that I felt like running to call everybody and have them flock around her and give her welcome.  I ran to her excited and said: 

“Ah, Joan, I’ve got such a wonderful thing to tell you about!  You would never imagine it.  I’ve had a dream, and in the dream I saw you right here where you are standing now, and—­”

But she put up her hand and said: 

“It was not a dream.”

It gave me a shock, and I began to feel afraid again.

“Not a dream?” I said, “how can you know about it, Joan?”

“Are you dreaming now?”

“I—­I suppose not.  I think I am not.”

“Indeed you are not.  I know you are not.  And yow were not dreaming when you cut the mark in the tree.”

I felt myself turning cold with fright, for now I knew of a certainty that I had not been dreaming, but had really been in the presence of a dread something not of this world.  Then I remembered that my sinful feet were upon holy ground—­the ground where that celestial shadow had rested.  I moved quickly away, smitten to the bones with fear.  Joan followed, and said: 

“Do not be afraid; indeed there is no need.  Come with me.  We will sit by the spring and I will tell you all my secret.”

When she was ready to begin, I checked her and said: 

“First tell me this.  You could not see me in the wood; how did you know I cut a mark in the tree?”