go among both men and beasts. And I
can tie better than those that did this; if I had tied him the ropes had
not cut his flesh."

The man looked on silent, while he was being bandaged, stealing a furtive
glance at Joan's face occasionally, such as an animal might that is
receiving a kindness form an unexpected quarter and is gropingly trying
to reconcile the act with its source. All the staff had forgotten the
huzzaing army drifting by in its rolling clouds of dust, to crane their
necks and watch the bandaging as if it was the most interesting and
absorbing novelty that ever was. I have often seen people do like
that--get entirely lost in the simplest trifle, when it is something that
is out of their line. Now there in Poitiers, once, I saw two bishops and
a dozen of those grave and famous scholars grouped together watching a
man paint a sign on a shop; they didn't breathe, they were as good as
dead; and when it began to sprinkle they didn't know it at first; then
they noticed it, and each man hove a deep sigh, and glanced up with a
surprised look as wondering to see the others there, and how he came to
be there himself--but that is the way with people, as I have said. There
is no way of accounting for people. You have to take them as they are.

"There," said Joan at last, pleased with her success; "another could have
done it no better--not as well, I think. Tell me--what is it you did?
Tell me all."

The giant said:

"It was this way, my angel. My mother died, then my three little
children, one after the other, all in two years. It was the famine;
others fared so--it was God's will. I saw them die; I had that grace; and
I buried them. Then when my poor wife's fate was come, I begged for leave
to go to her--she who was so dear to me--she who was all I had; I begged
on my knees. But they would not let me. Could I let her die, friendless
and alone? Could I let her die believing I would not come? Would she let
me die and she not come--with her feet free to do it if she would, and no
cost upon it but only her life? Ah, she would come--she would come
through the fire! So I went. I saw her. She died in my arms. I buried
her. Then the army was gone. I had trouble to overtake it, but my legs
are long and there are many hours in a day; I overtook it last night."

Joan said, musingly, as if she were thinking aloud:

"It sounds true. If true, it were no great harm to suspend the law this
one time--any would say that. It may