The New Magdalen

ht air, close to the cottage. Grace sta

at firing mea

outposts,” the nur

nger? Have the G

He lifted the canvas screen, and looke

ng on us,” he said. “The

from head to foot. Mercy advanced to the s

the position?”

le ominously s

e outnumbered as u

the French drums

not a man to think twice about what he does. We are left to take

he hand of the pretty Englishwoman on his breast. “Fear nothing, madam,” he said, looking as if he could have annihilated the whole German force with his own invincible arm. “A Frenchman’s heart beats under your hand. A Frenchman’s devotion protects you.” Grace’s head sank on his shoulder. Monsieur Surville felt that he had ass

of the sick and w

ged one shoulder — the

“The others must be left here. Fear nothing for yourself, de

oo?” Grace ple

e round the young lady’s waist, a

ercy. “My place is with the

t. “Think what you risk,”

ed to her l

account,” she answered; “the

t this time, to reconcile her to the misfortune of his absence. “Wait here till I return for you,” he whispered. “Fear nothing, my charming friend. Say to yourself, ‘Surville is the soul of honor! Surville

as suddenly and grandly dominated by the roar of cannon. The instant afte

rror. Mercy, without losing her self-posses

he said. “The Germans a

d ran to her f

oking in astonishment at the tall black figure of the nurse, standing immovably

afraid of losing my life?” she answer

e second time. A second shell exploded in the c

y, Grace threw her arms round the nurse, and clung, in the abject familiarity of terror, to the woman whose hand

e next shell will fall?”

tchen, she was driven back by the clamor and confusion attending the removal of those among the wounded who were strong enough to be placed in the wagon. A second look round

ragments of the shell were already firing the dry wooden floor, and in the midst of them, dimly seen through the smoke, lay the insensible body of her companion in the room. Even at that dreadful moment the nurse’s presence of mind did not fail her. Hurrying back to

wounded?

was still vainly trying to feel for the beating of the pulse, Surgeon Survi

the shell has struck her,” she said, yieldin

s emphasis laid on one of the letters in it — the letter R. “Take off her cloak,” he cried, raising

n in the kitchen bewildered him. “Just Heaven!” he exclaimed. “My emotions overpower me!” Mercy approached him with the candle. The light disclosed the frightful injury which a fragment of the shell had inflicted on the Englishwoman’s hea

. Her large gray eyes watched him attentivel

ht any longer,” was the cool reply. “It

ea

he said as he lifted the body and placed it on the bed in one corner of the room. “Next time, nurse, it may be you or me. Who knows? Bah! the problem of human destiny disgusts me.” He turned from the bed, and il

n, starting on its journey, was heard outside, and the shrill rol

n, left helpless at the mercy of the enemy, on their stra

you that I shall stay

lite remonstrance. Mercy held back the c

id. “My mind

dignity. “Madam,” he said, “you are sublime!” With that parting compliment the man of gallantry — tru

over the doorway. She was

ilence that followed. The Germans knew that the French were in retreat. A few minutes more and they would take possession of the abandoned village: the tumult of their app

ercy’s first look wa

se, they had only met again in the captain’s room. The acquaintance between them had been a short one; and it had given no promise of ripening into friendship. But

wn in the silence of the night a

far apart; the mouth and chin remarkably small. With tender hands Mercy smoothed the disheveled hair and arranged the crumpled dress. “Not five minut

s her. She walked slowly to

back on the table, and going to the window, listened for the first sounds of the German advance. The faint passage of the wind through some trees near at hand was the only sound that caught her ears. She turned from the windo

oned a lady — a connection by marriage, to whom she was personally a stranger — who was waiting to receive her. Some one capable of stating how the poor creature had met w

ace had shown to her. The only way of discovering the address to write to in England was to open the case and examine the

e to examine it, and the Germans would hardly trouble themselves to write to England. Which were the fittest eyes to inspect the papers of the deceased l

d the whole future course o