Nearly thirty thousand pilgrims would take part in it, each carrying a lighted taper: the nocturnal marvels of the sky would be revealed; the stars would descend upon earth.

At this thought the sufferers began to bewail their fate; what a wretched lot was theirs, to be tied to their beds, unable to see any of those wonders.
At last Madame de Jonquiere approached Marie's bed.

"My dear girl," said she, "here is your father with Monsieur l'Abbe." Radiant with delight, the girl at once forgot her weary waiting.

"Oh! pray let us make haste, Pierre," she exclaimed; "pray let us make haste!" They carried her down the stairs, and the young priest harnessed himself to the little car, which gently rolled along, under the star-studded heavens, whilst M.de Guersaint walked beside it.

The night was moonless, but extremely beautiful; the vault above looked like deep blue velvet, spangled with diamonds, and the atmosphere was exquisitely mild and pure, fragrant with the perfumes from the mountains.