and children, who were living
in the hotel, assembled in the hall and the dining-room which led from
it. The foreboding of a terrible disaster and the fear of coming events,
which was perpetually increased by the noise in the streets, did not
allow the poor creatures to rest longer in their rooms. Mrs. Baird and
Edith Irwin were not, however, among those who thronged round Heideck
and, in a hundred confused questions, hoped to obtain from the
dust-begrimed man, who had evidently come from the battlefield, news as
to how matters stood. Heideck said nothing more than that the army
was retreating, bravely fighting the while. It would have been useless
cruelty to increase the terror and despair of these unhappy creatures
by a detailed account of the whole truth. He had almost to tear himself
away by force from this close knot of inquirers, in order to go up
to Mrs. Baird's room. It was the first joyous feeling that he had
experienced throughout this disastrous day, when in the friendly "Come
in," in answer to his knock, he recognised Edith Irwin's voice. The
fear that something might have happened to her during his absence had
unceasingly tortured him during the last few hours, and for a moment he
forgot all the terrors that surrounded her in the rapture which, as he
entered, her incomparable beauty awoke in him.

She had risen from the sofa in the middle of the room and stood with
a serious, but perfectly composed face, and with bright eyes, which
appeared prepared for even the extremest danger. Mrs. Baird was, with
her two little girls, in a corner on her knees. So completely was she
absorbed in her religious devotions that she had not heard Heideck's
entrance into the room. It was only when Edith exclaimed, "Here is Mr.
Heideck, dear friend; I knew he would come," that she sprang up in great
excitement.

"Thank God! You have come from my husband? How have you left him? Is he
alive?"

"I left the Colonel, as he was defending himself at the head of his
brave troops against the enemy. He bade me give you his love." He had
endeavoured to give a firm tone to his voice. But the sharp feminine
instinct of the unhappy woman guessed what was behind his words,
intended to give comfort.

"Why don't you tell me the truth? My husband is dead!"

"He was wounded, but you need not give up the hope of seeing him again
alive."

"If he is wounded, I will go to him. You will conduct me, Mr. Heideck!
There must be a possibility of ge