The girls found dead wood very scarce that day, but at last on seeing on the other side of the stream quite a gleaning of branches deposited there by the torrent, Marie and Jeanne crossed over through the water; whilst Bernadette, more delicate than they were, a trifle young-ladyfied, perhaps, remained on the bank lamenting, and not daring to wet her feet.

She was suffering slightly from humour in the head, and her mother had expressly bidden her to wrap herself in her _capulet_,* a large white _capulet_ which contrasted vividly with her old black woollen dress.

When she found that her companions would not help her, she resignedly made up her mind to take off her _sabots_, and pull down her stockings.

It was then about noon, the three strokes of the Angelus rang out from the parish church, rising into the broad calm winter sky, which was somewhat veiled by fine fleecy clouds.

And it was then that a great agitation arose within her, resounding in her ears with such a tempestuous roar that she fancied a hurricane had descended from the mountains, and was passing over her.