land, macht ruhig sein." The sun glistened
on their helmets, and the clanking of swords and the jingling of spurs
kept time with the swelling chorus. After the cavalry came soldiers on
foot--miles of them.

"Oh," murmured Pierrette, clinging to her Mother, "it's like a river of
men!"

Her Mother did not answer. Pierrette looked up into her face. The tears
were streaming down her cheeks, but her head was proudly erect. She
looked at the other French people about them. There were tears on many
cheeks, but not a head was bowed. Pierre was glaring at the troops and
muttering through his teeth: "Just you wait till I grow up! I'll make
you pay for this, you pirates! I'll--"

"Hush!" whispered Pierrette. "Suppose they should hear you!"

"I don't care if they do! I wish they would!" raged Pierre. "I'm
going--"

But the German Army was destined not to suffer the consequences of
Pierre's wrath. He did not even have a chance to tell Pierrette his
plan for their destruction, for at this point his Mother, unable longer
to endure the sight, dragged him forcibly from the scene. "They shall
not parade their colors before me," she said firmly, "I will not stand
still and look in silence upon my conquerors! If I could but face them
with a gun, that would be different!"

She led the children through a maze of small streets by a roundabout
way to the Cathedral, and there they were met at the entrance by the
Verger, who gazed at them with sad surprise. "You've been out in the
street during the bombardment," he said reproachfully. "It's just like
you, Antoinette."

"Oh, but how was I to know it was coming?" cried Mother Meraut. "We
left home before it began!"

"It would have been just the same if you had known," scolded the
Verger. "Germans or devils--it would make no difference to you! You
have no fear in you."

"You misjudge me," cried Mother Meraut; "but what good would it do to
sit and quake in my own house? There is no safety anywhere, and here at
least there is work to do."

"You can go about your work as usual with the noise of guns ringing in
your ears and the Germans marching through Rheims?" exclaimed the
Verger.

"Why not?" answered Mother Meraut, with spirit. "I guess our soldiers
don't knock off work every time a gun goes off or a few Germans come in
sight! It would be a shame if we could not follow their example!"

"Antoinette, you are a wonderful woman. I have always said so,"
declared the Verger solemnly. "Yo