Chap 7 - Barefooted

 

In this chapter, three girls—Jeanne, Marie, and Bernadette—reach the end of the Ice du Chalet, near the Grotto of Massabielle. Due to mill repairs, the water level is low, making the canal easier to cross. Jeanne and Marie ford the cold stream, but Bernadette hesitates, fearing the icy water. She eventually decides to cross barefooted after some hesitation. The scene is set during February, just before noon, with the Angelus about to sound from the nearby Villages.

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THE three girls, strolling in this manner, had reached the end of the Ile du Chalet, directly opposite the triple excavation forming the Grotto of Massabielle, which we have endeavored to describe.  They were only separated from it by the course of the mill-stream, which was ordinarily very considerable, and which bathed the feet of the rocks.

  Now, it happened that on that very day, the mill of Sâvy was undergoing repairs, and the water had been turned off as much as possible above.  The canal was, consequently, very easy to cross, though not altogether dry, and the channel was exceedingly narrow.

  Branches of dead wood fallen from the various wild trees and shrubs which grew in the fissures of the rock were thickly scattered over this lonely spot, which the accidental drainage of the canal rendered more easy of access at the moment than was usually the case.

  Delighted with this fortunate discovery, and as active and diligent as Martha in the Gospel,  Jeanne and Marie quickly took off their wooden sabots and forded the little stream.

  “The water is very cold” they observed, on reaching the opposite bank and putting on their sabots again.

  It was the month of February, and these torrents from the mountain,  freshly  issuing from the eternal snows to which they owe their source, are usually of an icy temperature.

  Bernadette less active or less eager, and being besides far from robust, was still on this side of the little stream.  The idea affording this feeble channel was quite embarrassing to her.  She had also to take off her stockings, while Marie and Jeanne wore nothing but sabots; and, hearing the exclamation of her companions, she feared the coldness of the water.

  “Throw two or three large stones into the middle of the stream” she said to them, so that I may pass over without wetting my feet.”

  The two gleaners of wood were already arranging their little fagot and did not care to lose any time in suspending their operations.

  “Do as we did,” answered Jeanne: “go in barefooted.”

  Bernadette submitted, and leaning against a fragment of rock which was there, began to take off her shoes and stockings.  It was about noon, and the Angelus might sound at any moment from all the towers of the Pyrenean villages.