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desolate fields。 He and Margot and Reine Allix； between them； fed many
mouths that would otherwise have been closed in death by famine； and
denied themselves all except the barest and most meagre subsistence； that
they might give away the little they possessed。
And all this while the war went on； but seemed far from them； so
seldom did any tidings of it pierce the seclusion in which they dwelt。 By…
and… by； as the autumn went on； they learned a little more。 Fugitives
coming to the smithy for a horse's shoe； women fleeing to their old village
homes from their base； gay life in the city； mandates from the government
of defence sent to every hamlet in the country； stray news… sheets brought
in by carriers or hawkers and huckstersall these by degrees told them of
the peril of their country； vaguely indeed； and seldom truthfully； but so
that by mutilated rumours they came at last to know the awful facts of the
fate of Sedan； the fall of the Empire； the siege of Paris。 It did not alter their
daily lives； it was still too far off and too impalpable。 But a foreboding； a
dread； an unspeakable woe settled down on them。 Already their lands and
cattle had been harassed to yield provision for the army and large towns；
already their best horses had been taken for the siege…trains and the forage…
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waggons； already their ploughshares were perforce idle； and their children
cried because of the scarcity of nourishment； already the iron of war had
entered their souls。
The little street at evening was mournful and very silent； the few who
talked spoke in whispers； lest a spy should hear them； and the young ones
had no strength to playthey wanted food。
〃It is as it was in my youth；〃 said Reine Allix； eating her piece of black
bread and putting aside the better food prepared for her； that she might
save it； unseen； for the 〃child。〃
It was horrible to her and to all of them to live in that continual terror
of an unknown foe； that perpetual expectation of some ghastly； shapeless
misery。 They were quiet；so quiet！but by all they heard they knew that
any night； as they went to their beds； the thunder of cannon might awaken
them； any morning； as they looked on their beloved fields； they knew that
ere sunset the flames of war might have devoured them。 They knew so
little too； all they were told was so indefinite and garbled that sometimes
they thought the whole was some horrid dream thought so； at least； until
they looked at their empty stables； their untilled land； their children who
cried from hunger； their mothers who wept for the conscripts。
But as yet it was not so very much worse than it had been in times of
bad harvest and of dire distress； and the storm which raged over the land
had as yet spared this little green nest among the woods on the Seine。
November came。 〃It is a cold night； Bernadou； put on some more
wood；〃 said Reine Allix。 Fuel at the least was plentiful in that district； and
Bernadou obeyed。
He sat at the table； working at a new churn for his wife； he had some
skill at turnery and at invention in such matters。 The child slept soundly in
its cradle by the hearth； smiling while it dreamed。 Margot spun at her
wheel。 Reine Allix sat by the fire； seldom lifting her head from her long
knitting…needles； except to cast a look on her grandson or at the sleeping
child。 The little wooden shutter of the house was closed。 Some winter
roses bloomed in a pot beneath the little crucifix。 Bernadou's flute lay on a
shelf； he had not had heart enough to play it since the news of the war had
come。
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Suddenly a great sobbing cry rose withoutthe cry of many voices； all
raised in woe together。 Bernadou rose； took his musket in his hand； undid
his door； and looked out。 All the people were turned out into the street； and
the women； loudly lamenting； beat their breasts and strained their children
to their bosoms。 There was a sullen red light in the sky to the eastward；
and on the wind a low； hollow roar stole to them。
〃What is it？〃 he asked。
〃The Prussians are on us！〃 answered twenty voices in one accord。
〃That red glare is the town burning。〃
Then they were all stilla stillness that was more horrible than their
lamentations。
Reine Allix came and stood by her grandson。 〃If we must die； let us
die /here/；〃 she said； in a voice that was low and soft and grave。
He took her hand and kissed it。 She was content with his answer。
Margot stole forth too； and crouched behind them； holding her child to
her breast。 〃What can they do to us？〃 she asked； trembling； with the rich
colours of her face blanched white。
Bernadou smiled on her。 〃I do not know； my dear。 I think even they
can hardly bring death upon women and children。〃
〃They can； and they will；〃 said a voice from the crowd。
None answered。 The street was very quiet in the darkness。 Far away in
the east the red glare glowed。 On the wind was still that faint； distant；
ravening roar； like the roar of famished wolves； it was the roar of fire and
of war。
In the silence Reine Allix spoke： 〃God is good。 Shall we not trust in
Him？〃
With one great choking sob the people answered； their hearts were
breaking。 All night long they watched in the streetthey who had done no
more to bring this curse upon them than the flower…roots that slept beneath
the snow。 They dared not go to their beds； they knew not when the enemy
might be upon them。 They dared not flee； even in their own woods the foe
might lurk for them。 One man indeed did cry aloud； 〃Shall we stay here in
our houses to be smoked out like bees from their hives？ Let us fly！〃
But the calm； firm voice of Reine Allix rebuked him： 〃Let who will；
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run like a hare from the hounds。 For me and mine； we abide by our
homestead。〃
And they were ashamed to be outdone by a woman； and a woman of
ninety years old； and no man spoke any more of flight。 All the night long
they watched in the cold and the wind； the children shivering beneath their
mothers' skirts； the men sullenly watching the light of the flames in the
dark； starless sky。 All night long they were left alone； though far off they
heard the dropping shots of scattered firing； and in the leafless woods
around them the swift flight of woodland beasts startled from their sleep；
and the hurrying feet of sheep terrified from their folds in the outlying
fields。
The daybreak came； gray； cheerless； very cold。 A dense fog； white and
raw； hung over the river； in the east； where the sun； they knew； was rising；
they could only see the livid light of the still towering flames and pillars of
black smoke against the leaden clouds。
〃We will let them come and go in peace if they will；〃 murmured old
Mathurin。 〃What can we do？ We have no arms； no powder hardly； no
soldiers； no defence。〃
Bernadou said nothing； but he straightened his tall limbs； and in his
grave blue eyes a light gleamed。
Reine Allix looked at him as she sat in the doorway of her house。 〃Thy
hands are honest； thy heart pure； thy conscience clear。 Be not afraid to die
if need there be；〃 she said to him。
He looked down and smiled on her。 Margot clung to him in a passion
of weeping。 He clasped her close and kissed her softly； but the woman
who read his heart was the woman who had held him at his birth。
By degrees the women crept timidly back into their houses； hiding
their eyes so that they should not see that horrid light against the sky；
while the starving children clung to their breasts or to their skirts； wailing
aloud in terror。 The few men there were left； for the most part of them very
old or else mere striplings； gathered together in a hurried council。 Old
Mathurin； the miller； and the patriots of the wine…shop were agreed that
there should be no resistance； whatever might befall them； that it would be
best to hide such weapons as they had and any provisions