"Yes, father; but I go to the church and pray; then I do not need food." Jeanne took courage as she told this, and raising her head looked at him bravely. "I do not feel very hungry." "Fasting is good for the soul, my child, but too much of it is ill for the body. Stay, therefore, beside me that your father may see you eat your share." "But, father," she began protestingly. He interrupted her: "Eat," he commanded. When Jacques spoke in that tone his children knew that resistance was useless, so silently Jeanne ate her portion. Nor would he permit her to leave his side until every crumb was swallowed. She did not sit again at table, but went to the open door and gazed down the highroad through tear-blinded eyes. Her heart was very full. Father and child were in close accordance, and she knew that he suffered because of his family's misery. So down the valley she gazed wishing that she might do something to help him. The valley had regained much of its loveliness. The trees had leaved again; the fields were green with the new crops, and the gardens gave promise of later abundance. There were still black gaps among the dwellings, however; significant reminders of the visit of the marauders. Suddenly as the little maid stood leaning against the door, something down the road caused her to start violently, and lean forward eagerly. "Father," she cried shrilly. "Yes, Jeanne," he answered apathetically. "There are cattle and sheep coming down the highroad. They look like ours. What does it mean?" Instantly Jacques sprang to his feet and hastened to the door. One look and he gave a great shout. "They are ours," he cried in ringing tones. "Friends, neighbours, come and see! The cattle have come back." From out of the cottages ran the people, incredulity turning to joy as their sight verified Jacques' cry. The wildest excitement prevailed as the flocks and herds in charge of a number of soldiers commanded by a young man-at-arms drew near. From him they learned what had happened. When the lady of the castle, she who had gone to live with her spouse at the ducal court of Nancy, heard of the raid that had been made upon the villages, she protested to her kinsman, the Count of Vaudemont, against the wrong done to her, as she was the lady of Domremy and Greux. Now the place to which the chief of the marauding band, Henri d'Orley, had taken the cattle and plunder was the Château of Doulevant, which was under the immediate suzerainty of the lady's kinsman. As soon, therefore, as he received her message he sent a man-at-arms with soldiers to recapture the animals and the booty. This was done; not, however, without a fight, in which the young commander was victorious; and so he had brought the cattle home.