After a few days, Laxart took Joan to Vaucouleurs, and found lodging and guardianship for her with Catherine Royer, a wheelwright’s wife, an honest and good woman.  Joan went to mass regularly, she helped do the housework, earning her keep in that way, and if any wished to talk with her about her mission—­and many did—­she talked freely, making no concealments regarding the matter now.  I was soon housed near by, and witnessed the effects which followed.  At once the tidings spread that a young girl was come who was appointed of God to save France.  The common people flocked in crowds to look at her and speak with her, and her fair young loveliness won the half of their belief, and her deep earnestness and transparent sincerity won the other half.  The well-to-do remained away and scoffed, but that is their way.

Next, a prophecy of Merlin’s, more than eight hundred years old, was called to mind, which said that in a far future time France would be lost by a woman and restored by a woman.  France was now, for the first time, lost—­and by a woman, Isabel of Bavaria, her base Queen; doubtless this fair and pure young girl was commissioned of Heaven to complete the prophecy.

This gave the growing interest a new and powerful impulse; the excitement rose higher and higher, and hope and faith along with it; and so from Vaucouleurs wave after wave of this inspiring enthusiasm flowed out over the land, far and wide, invading all the villages and refreshing and revivifying the perishing children of France; and from these villages came people who wanted to see for themselves, hear for themselves; and they did see and hear, and believe.  They filled the town; they more than filled it; inns and lodgings were packed, and yet half of the inflow had to go without shelter.  And still they came, winter as it was, for when a man’s soul is starving, what does he care for meat and roof so he can but get that nobler hunger fed?  Day after day, and still day after day the great tide rose.  Domremy was dazed, amazed, stupefied, and said to itself, “Was this world-wonder in our familiar midst all these years and we too dull to see it?” Jean and Pierre went out from the village, stared at and envied like the great and fortunate of the earth, and their progress to Vaucouleurs was like a triumph, all the country-side flocking to see and salute the brothers of one with whom angels had spoken face to face, and into whose hands by command of God they had delivered the destinies of France.

The brothers brought the parents’ blessing and godspeed to Joan, and their promise to bring it to her in person later; and so, with this culminating happiness in her heart and the high hope it inspired, she went and confronted the governor again.  But he was no more tractable than he had been before.  He refused to send her to the King.  She was disappointed, but in no degree discouraged.  She said: 

“I must still come to you until I get the men-at-arms; for so it is commanded, and I may not disobey.  I must go to the Dauphin, though I go on my knees.”