n Versailles and Paris, came in,
together with a battery of artillery, and declared for the Commune. The
next morning Cuthbert went up at nine o'clock, as he had arranged to
take Mary out early, and to work in the afternoon. Just as he reached
the house he heard a cannon-shot.

"Hurry on your things," he said as he met her, "a gun has just fired; it
is the first in the Civil War; perhaps the National Guard are starting
against Versailles; at any rate it will be worth seeing."

The girl was ready in two or three minutes, and they walked briskly to
the Arc de Triomphe. As they did so they could hear not only the boom of
cannon, but the distant firing of musketry. Around the Arch a number of
people were gathered, looking down the long broad avenue running from it
through the Porte Maillot, and then over the Bridge of Neuilly to the
column of Courbeil. Heavy firing was going on near the bridge, upon the
banks of the river, and away beyond it to the right.

"That firing means that France is saved from the horrors of another red
Revolution, Mary," Cuthbert said. "It shows that some of the troops at
least are loyal, and in these matters example is everything. There was
a report that Charrette's Zouaves and the gendarmes have been placed at
the outposts, and if the report is true, it was a wise step, indeed, for
McMahon to take, for both could be relied upon; and now fighting has
begun, there is hope that the troops behind will stand firm."

"Why should they, Cuthbert?"

"Some of the shots from this side are sure to fall among them, and if a
few are killed and wounded the rest will get angry, and all idea of
fraternizing with the men who are firing on them will be at an end. I
should like to see how that crowd of National Guards are behaving."

"Shall we go down and look, Cuthbert. See, there is an omnibus going
down the hill, so I don't suppose there can be much danger."

"I don't think that there is any danger at present, Mary; the balls will
hardly come so far, but if the troops open fire with cannon, they will
send shell right up this avenue."

"Would you go by yourself if I were not here, Cuthbert?"

"Well, I certainly should, but that is no reason why I should go with
you."

"I can see women looking out of the windows," she said, "so we will go
down together, Cuthbert. We had the German shell falling near us while
the siege was going on, and things went on just as usual."

"Come on then, dear; at any rate it w