r wont to speak of what lies very deep in her heart, and if
you talk of the beast it will please her little."

And, indeed, I heard no word more of the jackanapes from Elliot, save
that, coming back from the minster next day, she whispered, "I have
prayed for him," and so fled to her own chamber.

As then I deemed it a strange thing, and scarcely to be approved by Holy
Church, that my lady should pray for a dumb beast who had no soul to be
saved. But a faithful, loving prayer is not unavailing or unheard of Him
who made the beasts, as well as He made us; for whose sin, or the sin of
our father Adam, they now suffer, silently. And the answer to this
prayer was to be known in the end.

As the week went on, tidings came that made Elliot glad again, if before
she had been sad enough. For this was that great week of wonders which
shall never be forgotten while France is France, and the lilies bloom.

On June the thirteenth the Maid took Jargeau, whence the famed Bastard of
Orleans had been driven some weeks agone; and the Earl of Suffolk yielded
him her prisoner, saying that she was "the most valiant woman in the
world." Scarce had tidings of this great victory come, when messengers
followed, declaring that the Maid had seized the Bridge of Meun and
driven the English into the Castle.

Next she marched against Beaugency, and, at midnight of June the
seventeenth, the English made terms, that they might go forth with their
lives, but without baggage or arms, and with but one mark of silver
apiece. Next morning came Talbot, the best knight then on ground, and
Fastolf, the wariest of captains, with a great army of English. First
they made for Jargeau, but they came too late, and then they rode to
Meun, and would have assailed the French in the bridge-fort, but, even
then, they heard how Beaugency had yielded to La Pucelle, and how the
garrison was departed into Normandy, like pilgrims, without swords, and
staff in hand. Thus all the Loire and the water-way was in the power of
France, wherefore the English marched off through the country called La
Beauce, which then lay desert and overgrown with wild wood, by reason of
the war. And there, in a place named Coynce, near Patay, the Maid
overtook the English, having with her La Hire and Xaintrailles, and she
charged them so rudely, that ere the English could array them in order of
battle, they were already flying for their lives. There were Talbot and
Warwick taken and h