From Madame Coudert's
door they watched the further destruction of the beautiful
Cathedral which Mother Meraut had so often called the "safest
place in Rheims." As it burned, a wonderful thing happened. High
above the glowing roof there suddenly flamed the blue fleur-de-
lis of France!
"See! See! " cried Mother Meraut. "A Miracle! The Lily of France!
Oh, surely it is a sign sent by the Bon Dieu to keep us from
despair!"
"It is only the gas from an exploding shell, bursting in blue
flame," said her husband. "Yet--who knows?--it may also be a true
promise that France shall rise in beauty from its ruins."
VII. HOME AGAIN
The next day, they were able to move Father Meraut to his own
home. In spite of the excitement and strain, he seemed but little
the worse for his experience, and the happiness of being again
with his family quite offset the effect of his dangerous journey.
Mother Meraut was a famous nurse, and when he was safely
installed in a bed in a corner of the room which was their living-
room and kitchen in one, she was able to give him her best care.
There he lay, following her with his eyes as she made good things
for him to eat or carried on the regular activities of her home.
Pierre and Pierrette sat beside his bed and talked to him, or,
better still, got him to tell them stories of the things that had
happened during his brief stay in the Army. Pierre brought the
little raveled-out dog, with which he was now on the friendliest
terms, to see him, and Madame Coudert also came to call now and
then, bringing a cake or some other dainty to the invalid.
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