Maximin and Melanie went back up the hollow to the "people spring"  and broke out their frugal lunch of bread and cheese. Other shepherds came up from the lower pastures and joined them in friendly chatter. When they left, Maximin and Melanie crossed the brook and came down a few steps toward the stone benches near a dry stream bed; this is the "small brook". Melanie set down her small bag, and Maximin placed his smock and his lunch on a nearby stone.

The other Brightness

Contrary to their habits, the two children lay down on the grass…and fell sleep. The September sun was relaxing the sky was cloudless. The chattering brook highlighted the stillness of the mountains. These were quiet moments…

Melanie woke up with the start and shook Maximin! “Memin, Memin, get up!.. let’s go look for our cows. I don’t where they are!” Quickly they climb the hillock facing the Gargas. From that vantage point they could see the surrounding area, and the cows right there, grazing peacefully.

The two children were relieved. Melanie took few steps down the hillock. Halfway, she froze, stunned, and her shepherd’s stick fall. “Memin, look over there, a light!”

Near the small brook on one of those stone benches…there was a globe of fire. “It’s as if the sun had fallen there!” But the sun still shone in a cloudless sky. Maximin ran to Melanie’s side yelling. “Where is it? Where is it?” Melanie pointed to the bottom of the ravine where they had just rested. Maximin came to her, frozen with fear and said, “ Hold on to your stick! I am keeping mine and if it comes close I’m giving it a good whack!” The light stirred, moved and swirled. Words failed the children to describe the rush of life that streamed from the fiery globe. A woman appeared within the light; she was sitting, her hands, her elbows on her knees, in deepest grief.

The Beautiful Lady

The Lady rose slowly. The children had not moved. She spoke to them in French:

"Come near, my children, do not be afraid.  I am here to tell you a great news."

They approached the Lady.  The stared at her.  She was still crying.  "She seemed like a lady that her children was beaten and who run away into the mountain to cry."  She was light.  She was dressed like the woman of that region:  along apron tied at the waist, a shawl crossed and knotted in the back.  On her head she woe a peasant bonnet..  There were roses like a crown around her head,  around her shawl and her shoes.  Light shimmered like a fiery diadem on her forehead.  A chain seemed to weigh heavy on her shoulders.  A finer link-chain held a brilliant crucifix on her breats,  with a hammer on one side and thongs on the other