is apron white
no longer, threw a bundle of linen to Delaherche and shouted:

"Here! be doing something; make yourself useful!"

But the manufacturer objected. "Oh! excuse me; I must go and try to pick
up some news. One can't tell whether his neck is safe or not." Then,
touching his lips to his wife's hair: "My poor Gilberte, to think that a
shell may burn us out of house and home at any moment! It is horrible."

She was very pale; she raised her head and glanced about her, shuddering
as she did so. Then, involuntarily, her unextinguishable smile returned
to her lips.

"Oh, horrible, indeed! and all those poor men that they are cutting and
carving. I don't see how it is that I stay here without fainting."

Mme. Delaherche had watched her son as he kissed the young woman's hair.
She made a movement as if to part them, thinking of that other man who
must have kissed those tresses so short a time ago; then her old hands
trembled, she murmured beneath her breath:

"What suffering all about us, _mon Dieu!_ It makes one forget his own."

Delaherche left them, with the assurance that he would be away no longer
than was necessary to ascertain the true condition of affairs. In the
Rue Maqua he was surprised to observe the crowds of soldiers that
were streaming into the city, without arms and in torn, dust-stained
uniforms. It was in vain, however, that he endeavored to slake his
thirst for news by questioning them; some answered with vacant, stupid
looks that they knew nothing, while others told long rambling stories,
with the maniacal gestures and whirling words of one bereft of reason.
He therefore mechanically turned his steps again toward the Sous
Prefecture as the likeliest quarter in which to look for information.
As he was passing along the Place du College two guns, probably all that
remained of some battery, came dashing up to the curb on a gallop, and
were abandoned there. When at last he turned into the Grande Rue he
had further evidence that the advanced guards of the fugitives were
beginning to take possession, of the city; three dismounted hussars had
seated themselves in a doorway and were sharing a loaf of bread; two
others were walking their mounts up and down, leading them by the
bridle, not knowing where to look for stabling for them; officers
were hurrying to and fro distractedly, seemingly without any distinct
purpose. On the Place Turenne a lieutenant counseled him not to loiter
unnecessarily, for th