Letting her head fall upon her friend's shoulder, she vented all her rebellion in a low, terrible voice, amidst the vague shadows of that awful room.

She had experienced what seldom happened to her, a collapse of faith, a sudden loss of courage, all the rage of the suffering being who can no longer wait.

Such was her despair, indeed, that she even became sacrilegious.
"No, no," she stammered, "the Virgin is cruel; she is unjust, for she did not cure me just now.

Yet I felt so certain that she would grant my prayer, I had prayed to her so fervently.

I shall never be cured, now that the first day is past.