“One of the soldiers behind me gave a terrible laugh and said:  ’There will be some widows there!’

“Perhaps he was married.  A third added:  ‘It did not take long!’

“A head emerged from the litter.

“‘What is the matter?’ she asked; ‘are you fighting?’

“‘It is nothing, mademoiselle,’ I replied; ’we have got rid of a dozen Prussians!’

“‘Poor fellows!’ she said.  But as she was cold, she quickly disappeared beneath the cloaks again, and we started off once more.  We marched on for a long time, and at last the sky began to grow lighter.  The snow became quite clear, luminous and glistening, and a rosy tint appeared in the east.  Suddenly a voice in the distance cried: 

“‘Who goes there?’

“The whole detachment halted, and I advanced to give the countersign.  We had reached the French lines, and, as my men defiled before the outpost, a commandant on horseback, whom I had informed of what had taken place, asked in a sonorous voice, as he saw the litter pass him:  ’What have you in there?’

“And immediately a small head covered with light hair appeared, dishevelled and smiling, and replied: 

“‘It is I, monsieur.’

“At this the men raised a hearty laugh, and we felt quite light-hearted, while Pratique, who was walking by the side of the litter, waved his kepi and shouted: 

“‘Vive la France!’ And I felt really affected.  I do not know why, except that I thought it a pretty and gallant thing to say.

“It seemed to me as if we had just saved the whole of France and had done something that other men could not have done, something simple and really patriotic.  I shall never forget that little face, you may be sure; and if I had to give my opinion about abolishing drums, trumpets and bugles, I should propose to replace them in every regiment by a pretty girl, and that would be even better than playing the ’Marseillaise:  By Jove! it would put some spirit into a trooper to have a Madonna like that, a live Madonna, by the colonel’s side.”

He was silent for a few moments and then continued, with an air of conviction, and nodding his head: 

“All the same, we are very fond of women, we Frenchmen!”

MOTHER SAUVAGE

Fifteen years had passed since I was at Virelogne.  I returned there in the autumn to shoot with my friend Serval, who had at last rebuilt his chateau, which the Prussians had destroyed.

I loved that district.  It is one of those delightful spots which have a sensuous charm for the eyes.  You love it with a physical love.  We, whom the country enchants, keep tender memories of certain springs, certain woods, certain pools, certain hills seen very often which have stirred us like joyful events.  Sometimes our thoughts turn back to a corner in a forest, or the end of a bank, or an orchard filled with flowers, seen but a single time on some bright day, yet remaining in our hearts like the image of certain women met in the street on a spring morning in their light, gauzy dresses, leaving in soul and body an unsatisfied desire which is not to be forgotten, a feeling that you have just passed by happiness.