"Wherewithal to pay your men-at-arms," she said. But the Maid answered disdainfully:
"Go back to your husband, look after your household, and feed your children."[254]
Disputes between saints are usually bitter. In her rival's missions Jeanne refused to see anything but folly and futility. Nevertheless it was not for her to deny the possibility of the white lady's visitations; for to Jeanne herself did there not descend every day as many saints, angels and archangels as were ever painted on the pages of books or the walls of monasteries? In order to make up her mind on the subject, she adopted the most effectual measures. A learned doctor may reason concerning matter and substance, the origin and the form of ideas, the dawn of impressions in the intellect, but a shepherdess will resort to a surer method; she will appeal to her own eyesight.
Jeanne asked Catherine if the white lady came every night, and learning that she did: "I will sleep with you," she said.
When night came, she went to bed with Catherine, watched till midnight, saw nothing and fell asleep, for she was young, and she had great need of sleep. In the morning, when she awoke, she asked: "Did she come?"
"She did," replied Catherine; "you were asleep, so I did not like to wake you."
"Will she not come to-morrow?"
Catherine assured her that she would come without fail.
This time Jeanne slept in the day in order that she might keep awake at night; so she lay down at night in the bed with Catherine and kept her eyes open. Often she asked: "Will she not come?"
And Catherine replied: "Yes, directly."