56
"I—I suppose not. I think I am not."
"Indeed you are not. I know you are not. And you were not dreaming when you cut the mark in the tree."
I felt myself turning cold with fright, for now I knew of a certainty that I had not been dreaming, but had really been in the presence of a dread something not of this world. Then I remembered that my sinful feet were upon holy ground—the ground where that celestial shadow had rested. I moved quickly away, smitten to the bones with fear. Joan followed, and said—
"Do not be afraid; indeed there is no need. Come with me. We will sit by the spring and I will tell you all my secret."
When she was ready to begin, I checked her and said—
"First tell me this. You could not see me in the wood; how did you know I cut a mark in the tree?"
"Wait a little; I will soon come to that; then you will see."
"But tell me one thing now; what was that awful shadow that I saw?"
"I will tell you, but do not be disturbed; you are not in danger. It was the shadow of an archangel—Michael, the chief and lord of the armies of heaven."
I could but cross myself and tremble for having polluted that ground with my feet.
"You were not afraid, Joan? Did you see his face—did you see his form?"
"Yes; I was not afraid, because this was not the first time. I was afraid the first time."
"When was that, Joan?"
"It is nearly three years ago now."
"So long? Have you seen him many times?"
"Yes, many times."
"It is this, then, that has changed you; it was this that made you thoughtful and not as you were before. I see it now. Why did you not tell us about it?"
"It was not permitted. It is permitted now, and soon I
