For months they had not seen a newspaper, and
there had been no visitors in Fontanelle. And when Father Meraut
had finished telling them all the story of Rheims, of the burning
of the Cathedral, of the miraculous safety of the statue of Saint
Jeanne, of his own escape, and the final destruction of the roof
over their heads, and their flight from the city, the pressing
needs of the little village and his and Grandpere's proposed
voyage were discussed, and it was very late when at last the
people separated and the little village settled down for the
night.
XI. A SURPRISE
The next morning the whole village was up early, and plans were
perfected for the voyage of Father Meraut and Grandpere. A long
list of necessary articles was made out, and the money for their
purchase safely hidden away in their inside pockets. They were
just about to start down the road to the river, when suddenly a
wonderful thing happened. Right through the great gate of the
Chateau rumbled a large motor truck with an American flag
fluttering from the radiator! It was driven by a strange young
woman in a smart gray uniform. Beside her on the driver's seat
sat an older woman dressed the same way and carrying in her hand
a black medicine-case.
The girl stopped her engine, climbed down to the ground, and
approached the astonished people of Fontanelle: "Bon jour," she
said, smiling. Then in excellent French she explained her errand.
"We are Americans," she said, and at that name every face smiled
back at her.
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