u must not think that," he said. "We have not had a fair chance
before, now we have got one. But even should we not win the first time,
we will the second or the third. What, are Frenchmen always to be beaten
by these Prussians? They have beaten us of late, because we have been
badly led; but there must come another Jena to us one of these days."

Mary nodded and then passed on to the next patient. In the evening the
news came that things were not all in readiness, and that the sortie was
deferred at least for twenty-four hours.

"You are not well, Miss Brander," the chief surgeon of the hospital said
to her soon afterwards, "I have noticed all day that you have been
looking fagged and worn out. As it is certain now that we shall have no
unusual pressure upon our resources for another thirty-six hours at any
rate, I think you had better go home."

"I have a bad headache," she said.

"Yes, I can see that, and your hand is as cold as ice. Go home, child,
and have a long night's rest. This sort of work is very trying until one
gets hardened to it. Fortunately I have no lack of assistance. If you do
not feel better to-morrow morning take another twenty-four hours off
duty. You are likely to want all your strength and nerve on Monday if
this affair comes off in earnest, which I own I am inclined to doubt,
for, so far, there has been no shadow of earnestness about anything
since the siege began."

CHAPTER XII.

The Franc-tireurs des Ecoles had marched out beyond the walls when the
order came that the affair was postponed, and that they would not be
required till the following day, when they were to parade at daybreak.
There was much indignation at the change and all sorts of causes were
suggested for it. One rumor was to the effect that the pontoon bridges
for crossing the river were of insufficient length. Others said that the
train of provisions that was to accompany the force after it had cut its
way through the Prussians was not ready. One rumor was to the effect
that the Prussians had been apprised by spies of Trochu's intentions and
had massed heavy bodies of men at the threatened point. The most
generally received opinion was that Trochu's object had been only to
make a demonstration on this side of Paris, with the object of deceiving
the Prussians and inducing them to weaken their lines at other points,
and that the real attack would be made in another direction altogether.

"It is a nuisance whichever