At Couhe-Verac they had again said their chaplets, and sung another canticle.

At present, however, there was some slight abatement of the religious exercises.

Sister Hyacinthe, who had not yet been able to lunch, ventured to eat a roll and some fruit in all haste, whilst still ministering to the strange man whose faint, painful breathing seemed to have become more regular.

And it was only on passing Ruffec at three o'clock that they said the vespers of the Blessed Virgin.
"_Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix_." "_Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi_."* * "Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ." As they were finishing, M.Sabathier, who had watched little Sophie while she put on her shoe and stocking, turned towards M.de Guersaint.
"This child's case is interesting, no doubt," he remarked.

"But it is a mere nothing, monsieur, for there have been far more marvellous cures than that.