that Sister Marie-Aimee said that she was as
black as a mole. I saw, however, that she had a broad forehead, fine
big eyes, and the rest of her face was small and refined. Whenever I
looked at her, I didn't quite know why, but I thought of a well, deep
and dark, and full of hot water. No, I didn't think her pretty, but I
wouldn't tell her so because she was a cripple. I said she would be
much prettier if her skin were whiter. Little by little I became her
friend. She told me that she hoped to go away and get married like
Nina had done. Nina used to come and see us on Sundays with her child.
Colette took hold of my arm and said, "You see, I must get married. I
must." Then she stretched herself, bending her whole body forward.
Sometimes she used to cry, and was in such deep trouble that I could
not find anything to say to her. She would look at her poor twisted
legs, and groan out, "There would have to be a miracle for me to get
away from here."

All of a sudden I got the idea that the Virgin could bring this miracle
about. Colette thought it a splendid idea. She was quite surprised
that she had never thought of it. It was only fair that she should
have legs like the others. She wanted to see about it at once. She
explained to me that several girls would be necessary for the nine
days' prayer, and said that we must go and purify ourselves at
communion, and that during nine days we would pray all the time, so as
to get help from Our Lady in heaven. This had to be done in the
greatest secrecy. It was arranged that Sophie should be one of us
because she was so very good, and Colette said she would talk to some
of the big girls who were good, too. Two days afterwards it was all
arranged. Colette was to fast during the nine days. On the tenth day,
which would be a Sunday, she would go to communion as usual, leaning on
her stick and the arm of one of us. Then, when she had taken the holy
wafer, she would make a vow to bring up her children in the love of the
Virgin, and after that she would rise up straight and would sing the
"Te Deum" in her beautiful voice, and we would all sing it with her.

For nine days I prayed more fervently than I had ever prayed before.
The ordinary prayers seemed insipid. I recited the Virgin's Litany. I
hunted up the most beautiful hymns of praise that I could find, and
repeated them without getting tired. "Star of the Morning, make
Colette whole." The first time, I remained