She apologized for presenting herself so informally: said she had come,
"de la parte de maman," to ask me what I proposed to do. I replied at
once, "I am staying."
She looked a little surprised: said her mother wished to do the same,
but that her only brother was with the colors; that he had confided his
young wife and two babies to her, and that the Germans were so brutal to
children that she did not dare risk it.
"Of course, you know," she added, "that every one has left Couilly; all
the shops are closed, and nearly every one has gone from Voisins and
Quincy. The mayor's wife left last night. Before going she came to us
and advised us to escape at once, and even found us a horse and
cart--the trains are not running. So mother thought that, as you were a
foreigner, and all alone, we ought not to go without at least offering
you a place in the wagon--the chance to go with us."
I was really touched, and told her so, but explained that I should stay.
She was rather insistent--said her mother would be so distressed at
leaving me alone with only a little group of women and children about
me, who might, at the last moment, be panic-stricken.
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