Part 13 (2/2)
Then, presently, one by one we took our way towards the hall, and the cellar seemed empty.
The tall boy came back to the entrance, all excitement.
”We saw where it fell!” he panted. ”There are some wounded. The police won't let you go near. There's lots and lots of people out there. Where's mamma?”
”She's looking for you!”
He was off with a bound.
The instinct to see, to know what is going on is infinitely stronger than that of self preservation. Many a soldier has told me that, and I have often had occasion to prove it personally.
Some of the women started towards the street.
”We're only going as far as the door,” said they by way of excuse.
”You're really quite safe beneath the portico.” And they carried their babies with them.
So when the final signal of safety was sounded, there remained below but a few old women, a couple of very small children, and Monsieur Leddin, whom nothing seemed to disturb.
The mothers returned to fetch their children. The old ladies and Monsieur Leddin were aroused.
”_C'est fini_! _Ah_!”
And in the courtyard one could hear them calling as they dispersed.
”Good-night, Madame Cocard.”
”Good-night, Madame Bidon.”
”Don't forget.”
”I won't.”
”Till next time.”
”That's it, till next time.”
A young woman approached me.
”Madame, you won't mind if I come after them to-morrow, would you?” she begged with big wistful eyes. ”The stairway is so dark and so narrow in our house, I'm afraid something might happen to them.”
”Mercy me! you're surely not thinking of leaving your babies alone in the cellar?”
”Oh, Madame, it's not my babies. Not yet,” and she smiled. ”It's my bronze chimney ornaments!”
”Your what?”
”Yes, Madame, my chimney ornaments. A clock and a pair of candlesticks. They're over there in that wooden box all done up beautifully. You see Lucien and I got married after the war began. It was all done so quickly that I didn't have any trousseau or wedding presents. I'm earning quite a good deal now, and I don't want him to think ill of me so I'm furnis.h.i.+ng the house, little by little. It's a surprise for when he comes home.”
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