The Soubirouses, on being made acquainted with the circumstance, evinced much displeasure at such childish nonsense, and told their daughter that she was not to return to the rock of Massabielle.

All the children of the neighbourhood, however, were already repeating the tale, and when Sunday came the parents had to give way, and allow Bernadette to betake herself to the Grotto with a bottle of holy water to ascertain if it were really the devil whom one had to deal with.

She then again beheld the light, the figure became more clearly defined, and smiled upon her, evincing no fear whatever of the holy water.

And, on the ensuing Thursday, she once more returned to the spot accompanied by several persons, and then for the first time the radiant lady assumed sufficient corporality to speak, and say to her: "Do me the kindness to come here for fifteen days." Thus, little by little, the lady had assumed a precise appearance.

The something clad in white had become indeed a lady more beautiful than a queen, of a kind such as is only seen in pictures.