_The child came to my arm. He was so fair and warm! The child came to my arm, I kept him safe from harm! Hoée! Hoée! Hoée!_ _A light grew round his head, I felt all cheered and fed. “Yvette, have thou no fear! Who giveth aid, to me is dear!” Hoée! Hoée! Hoée! The child no longer pressed, White snow lay on my breast!_ _The grey wolf ran away, Hoée! Hoée! Hoée! There broke a splendid day, Beneath the halfway tree, ‘Tween Josselin and Pontivy!_ SISTER FIDELIS A miracle? YVETTE I do not know. A YOUNG GIRL I liked best The beau prince and the belle princesse. ANOTHER GIRL Oh, Thou’rt an Aristocrat! [_The young girls return to their embroidery._ YVETTE _plays in the water of the fountain with her hand_. YVETTE Gold fish, gold fish, How are the fish of Quiberon? A YOUNG GIRL Were I A fairy prince, then my princess should be Madame la Marquise de Blanchefôret! ANOTHER If I Were a princess, I would have for my prince Monsieur le Baron de Morbec. [YVETTE _turns from the fountain_. A THIRD GIRL They say That in all France there’s none more brave than he! And far and near she’s called La Belle Marquise! A little while and there’ll a wedding be! THE FIRST But then, the poor Yvette! He is, you know, Her prince! [_They laugh._ YVETTE Oh, mockery! SISTER FIDELIS Hush, children, hush! Monsieur le Baron is her benefactor! SISTER SIMPLICIA He plucked her from the dreadful world outside! SISTER FIDELIS He placed her here beneath Our Lady’s care. SISTER SIMPLICIA In everything he is her truest friend! SISTER FIDELIS But for his condescension, ah, who knows What in these fearful days might be her lot! Here in this fold she’s safe. YVETTE (_aside_) Alas! alas!