seen nothing." Then Bernadette said, "No more did I, either."
On their return to Lourdes, Marie told her mother what Bernadette had stated, and Mme. Soubirous treated it as idle fancy.
The matter, however, was noised about and provoked attention, the more so as from the magistrate's letter we are made aware that something of the sort was expected in the place. On Sunday, 14 February, a party accompanied the girl to the spot; whereupon she knelt down, fell into an ecstasy, and declared that she again saw the apparition. All Lourdes was now stirred. Three ladies next took Bernadette in hand, and were almost constantly in attendance on her—Mme. Millet, Mlle. Peyret, and Mlle. Pène, sister of one of the curates of Lourdes. In their presence Bernadette had other visions. Peasants now came in crowds, surrounded the girl, and accompanied her on each expedition to the grotto. At the suggestion of her confessor she put questions to the figure, and it replied, so Bernadette asserted, enjoining penance, and the building of a chapel on the spot.
One day "Madame," said the child, "if you have something to communicate to me, have the goodness to write it down."
"There is no need for writing what I have to tell you," replied the mysterious lady; "but do me the favour of coming here during fifteen days."
On one occasion the apparition bade the girl go into the grotto, grub for water, wash in it, drink it, and eat a mouthful of grass.
"The Grotto at this period," said Mlle. Lacrampe, who was present on this occasion, "had not the depth that it possesses now. Pebbles and sand were heaped up in it to a considerable
