of; and now she would listen, and at other seasons would seem
proud, and as if her mind were otherwhere. Young knights many came to
our booth, and looked ill-pleased when I served them, and their eyes were
ever on the inner door, watching for Elliot, whom they seldom had sight
of.

So here was I, in a double service, who, before I met Brother Thomas, had
been free of heart and hand. But, if my master's service irked me, in
that other I found comfort, when I could devise with Elliot, as
concerning our country and her hopes for the Maid. But my own hopes were
not high, nor could I mark any sign that she favoured me more than
another, though I had the joy to be often in her company. And, indeed,
what hope could I have, being so young, and poor, and in visible station
no more than any 'prentice lad? My heart was much tormented in these
fears, and mainly because we heard no tidings that the Maid was accepted
by the Dauphin, and that the day of her marching, and of my deliverance
from my base craft of painting, was at hand.

It so fell out, how I knew not, whether I had shown me too presumptuous
for an apprentice, or because of any other reason, that Elliot had much
forborne my company, and was more often in church at her prayers than in
the house, or, when in the house, was busy in divers ways, and I scarce
ever could get word of her. Finding her in this mood, I also withdrew
within myself, and was both proud and sorely unhappy, longing more than
ever to take my own part in the world as a man-at-arms. Now, one day
right early, I being alone in the chamber, copying a psalter, Elliot came
in, looking for her father. I rose at her coming, doffing my cap, and
told her, in few words, that my master had gone forth. Thereon she
flitted about the chamber, looking at this and that, while I stood
silent, deeming that she used me in a sort scarce becoming my blood and
lineage.

Suddenly she said, without turning round, for she was standing by a table
gazing at the pictures in a Book of Hours--

"I have seen her!"

"The Pucelle?--do you speak of her, gentle maid?"

"I saw her and spoke to her, and heard her voice"; and here her own
broke, and I guessed that she was near to weeping. "I went up within the
castle precinct, to the tower Coudraye," she said, "for I knew that she
lodged hard by, with a good woman who dwells there. I passed into the
chapel of St. Martin on the cliff, and there heard the voice of one
praying