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bodies of strangers entered the house, but her parents did not appear. Still she was not discouraged, but hoped on. But when night fell at last, her hopes perished, and the tears came; however, she dashed them away, and said—
"It was to be so, no doubt; no doubt it was so ordered; I must bear it, and will."
De Metz tried to comfort her by saying—
"The governor sends no word; it may be that they will come to-morrow, and—"
He got no further, for she interrupted him, saying—
"To what good end? We start at eleven to-night."
And it was so. At ten the governor came, with his guard and arms, with horses and equipment for me and for the brothers, and gave Joan a letter to the King. Then he took off his sword, and belted it about her waist with his own hands, and said—
"You said true, child. The battle was lost, on the day you said. So I have kept my word. Now go—come of it what may."
Joan gave him thanks, and he went his way.
The lost battle was the famous disaster that is called in history the Battle of the Herrings.
All the lights in the house were at once put out, and a little while after, when the streets had become dark and still, we crept stealthily through them and out at the western gate and rode away under whip and spur.
