white figures of all ages were galloping up the hill.  The bells were ringing and we were a little late.  The big doors of the church were wide open, the organ playing, and a good many people standing about.  The altar was bright with flowers and candles, and “oriflammes” of blue and pink gauze, worked with gold and silver lilies, were stretched across the church between the pillars.  One or two banners with the head of the Virgin and flowers painted in bright colours were also hanging from the columns.  Two or three priests, with handsome vestments—­white embroidered in gold—­were officiating, and the choir boys wore their red petticoats—­soutanes trimmed with lace and red shoes and caps.  The Suisse (beadle), with his cocked hat, silver embroidered coat and big cane, was hovering about, keeping order.

Just inside the chancel sat the “communiants”—­fifty boys and girls.  The girls—­all in white from top to toe—­white dresses, shoes, and gloves, and long white veils coming to the edge of the dress, and either a white cap (which looks very pretty and quaint on the little heads—­rather like some of the old Dutch pictures) or a wreath of white flowers.  With them sat about half a dozen smaller girls—­also in white, with wreaths of white roses.  They were too small to make their first communion, but they were to hold the cordons of the banner when the procession passed down the church.  The boys were all in black, short jackets, white waistcoats, and white ribbon bows on their sleeves.

The church was very full—­mostly women, a few men at the bottom.  It was a pretty sight when the procession moved around the church.  First came the “sacristain” in his black skirt and white soutane, then the banner held by two of the big girls; the group of little ones—­some of them quite tiny and so pretty with the wreaths of white roses on their black hair—­holding the cords and looking most pleased with their part of the function.  Just behind them came the good old religieuse Soeur St. Antoine, hovering over her little flock and keeping them all in their places; then all the communiants, the smallest girls first, the boys behind, all carrying lighted tapers and singing a hymn to the accompaniment of the organ.

They went first to the font, stopped there, and one of the girls read a sort of prayer renewing their baptismal vows.  Then they started again, in the same order, to the Chapelle de la Vierge, always singing their hymn, and knelt at the rails.  Then the hymn stopped, and they recited, all together, a prayer to the Virgin.  The little childish voices sounded quite distinctly in the old church—­one heard every word.  The congregation was much interested.