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She was none the happier for them when she returned that night to the little city room, the poor lodging whose high window overlooked both town and country, city streets and harvest-fields, and the river flowing on beyond the borders of the town, no happier through many a moment of thinking, until, as it were by an instant illumination, she began to see the truth of the matter, as some might wonder she did not instantly perceive it, if they could omit from observation this leading fact, that the orphan girl was Jacqueline Gabrie, child of the Church, and not a wise and generous person, who had never been in bondage to superstitions.
It was broken at length by Elsie, exclaiming, in a voice changed from its former speaking, "Jacqueline Gabrie, you are homesick! horribly homesick, Jacqueline!" "You do not ask for Antonine: yet you know I went to spend the day with her," said Jacqueline, very gravely. "How is Antonine Duprè?" asked Elsie. "She is dead. I have told you a good many times that she must die. Now, she is dead."
Jacqueline Gabrie and Elsie Méril could not occupy one room, and remain, either of them, indifferent to so much as might be manifested of the other's inmost life.
"To bring him out of suffering he has never been made to endure, as surely as God lives. As if the Almighty judged men so! I shall send back no more money to Father La Croix. It is not his prayer, nor my earnings, that will have to do with the eternity of John Gabrie. Do you hear me, Elsie?" "I seem to, Jacqueline." "Have I any cause for wretched looks, then?
So they turned from speaking of Joan and her work, to contemplate another style of heroism, and to question their own hearts. Jacqueline Gabrie had lived through eighteen years of hardship and exposure. She was strong, contented, resolute. Left to herself, she would probably have suffered no disturbance of her creed, would have lived and died conforming to the letter of its law.
Urged by one desire, to ascertain the facts of the trial, and the time when the sentence would be executed, the laborers were returning to the town. Without demonstration of any emotion, Jacqueline Gabrie, quiet, silent, walked along the river-bank, until she came to the clump of chestnut-trees, whose shadow fell across the stream.
You will not to all eternity, by any artificial means, nor by a miracle, bring forth an eagle from a mollusk. There was not a sadder heart in all those fields of Meaux than the heart of Jacqueline Gabrie. There was not a stronger heart. Not a hand labored more diligently. Under the broad-brimmed peasant-hat was a sad countenance, under the peasant-dress a heavily burdened spirit.
By day, in the field, Jacqueline Gabrie thought over the reports she heard through the harvesters, of the city's feeling, of its purpose, of its judgment; by night she prayed and hoped, with the mother of Leclerc; and wondrous was the growth her faith had in those days. On the evening of the third day, Jacqueline and Elsie walked into Meaux together. This was not invariably their habit.
The girls were living in the region of the vineyards now, and among the vines they worked. It began to be remarked by some of their companions how much Jacqueline Gabrie and the young student from the city walked together.
It might be so, thought Jacqueline Gabrie. What then? what then? she thought. There was inspiration to the girl in that cruel prophecy. Her lifework was not ended. If Christ was the One Ransom, and it did truly fall on Him, and not on her, to care for those beloved, departed from this life, her work was still for love. John Leclerc disabled or dead, who should care then for his aged mother?
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