efore evening our convent and every other refuge was
crowded to the utmost.

It was a strange position for all of us; the wounded were our
nominal enemies, it is true, but we had been living with them on
terms of the kindliest intimacy for a long winter, and there was
no stimulus of duty needed to make the nuns put forth every effort
for their relief. To me they were more than generous enemies--they
were countrymen and kinsmen for whom I was bound to work with a
whole heart.

I was interrupted in my task by the appearance of Christopher.
"Madam, I have come to tell you that your brother, the Captain, is
safe."

"Is he wounded?" I asked, with swift anxiety.

"Yes, madam, but our surgeon says a fine clean cut; and I believe
him too, for he went off to sleep the moment it was dressed, more
tired than hurt. He is in his own room, where you may look at him
if you will promise not to speak," he said, with an air of the
greatest importance. "I gave Miss Angelique his clothes to attend
to as she asked, for she was there when he was brought in, and
waited until she heard the surgeon say there was no danger. She
would have liked to watch, too, but I was put in charge."

Christopher cautiously opened the door and allowed me to peep in,
and my heart was lightened at the sight of Archie sleeping quietly,
his brown curls hidden beneath a mass of bandages, but his face
composed and natural.

"Thank you, Christopher," I said. "You are a brave lad."

"There were lots more better than me," he said, modestly, "but we
didn't have a chance, for all that."

"Tell me something of what happened."

"I don't know what happened after it began. I only saw the back of
the man in front of me, and was too busy with my piece to think of
anything else, until I saw my Captain in trouble, and then my hands
were full, for the rest of the day. After I hear some of the old
powder-eaters talk, madam, I'll be able to make up a fine story
for you," he said, with a bright laugh that to me sounded like an
echo.

I hastened to our room, and there found Angelique in a state of
exultation.

"Victory, Marguerite! As I told you! Our troops are on the Heights
and hold the General Hospital, and the English are trapped in these
crazy walls!" But in an instant she calmed herself and said,
earnestly, "Now is the time for you to save us all!"

"I save you all? What do you mean?"

"Mean, Marguerite? Listen to those cries and the fighting. Do you
know wha