And so we remained where we were, hidden in the deep shadows, whilst Jeanne, with bent head and lingering, graceful steps, utterly unconscious of the eyes that watched her, went slowly out of sight along the glade leading towards the village and her home.
Only when she had disappeared did we venture to move on in her wake, and so passed by the low-browed house, set in its well-tended little garden, where the d'Arc family lived.

It lay close to the church, and bore a look of pleasant homelike comfort.

We saw Jeanne bending tenderly over a chair, in which reclined the bent form of a little crippled sister.

We even heard the soft, sweet voice of the Maid, as she answered some question asked her from within the open door.

Then she lifted the bent form in her arms, and I did note how strong that slim frame must be, for the burden seemed as nothing to her as she bore it within the house; and then she disappeared from view, and we rode onwards together.
"There, my friend," spoke Bertrand at last, "I have kept my promise, you have seen the Maid." "Yes," I answered gravely, "I have seen the Maid," and after that we spoke no word for many a mile..