“I am glad you tell me that, for there are days when my spirit goes down, down into the very depths, yet I am much better off than so many many others, than Odette, for instance. She has lost both her parents. You think there is no doubt she is in Germany?” She went back to the subject of her mother, of whom she rarely spoke to any one. “It is possible that she is in some one of the captured towns.” “Would that be better?” “It might be; it might not. It all depends upon the officers in charge. I think it is more probable that she is in Germany, for we believe that her message came through some escaped prisoner who did not come my way and so posted the message.” “It was a great comfort.” “The greatest in the world.” Then they fell to talking of other things, of the dear grandfather, of Victor, of Pom Pom, till Michel came by where they were sitting, on his way from the doctor’s. He waved his cap when he saw Lucie. “He is better, mademoiselle, and unless he takes a bad turn the doctor thinks there is a good chance for him.” “Thank you, Michel, that is good news you bring to-day,” Lucie answered cheerily. “Such a good doctor, so kind, so devoted. His only son has gone to the service and he has taken up the practice again. He had retired, you see, for he is quite an old man. The people adore him, for he is just as attentive to the poorest as to the richest. He came all the way out here to see Pom Pom, and is watching and nursing him as if he were his dearest friend.” “There is much goodness in the world,” her father returned thoughtfully, “but sometimes it takes great afflictions to make one realize it. You are contented here, little one?” “As much as I could be while things are as they are, and much more so than in Paris. Of course I long for the day to come when we can go back to our own home. Paulette is always talking about it. Will the war last so very much longer? Can we go as soon as the Germans have left our town?” “I am afraid those are questions it would take a wiser one than I to answer.” “But you would like me to stay here till it is safe to go back, and you will come when you can to see me? It is farther away than Paris, you know.” “It does not appear that there is a better place for you, here among friends, and I feel satisfied while you have Paulette, she is such a good devoted soul.” “She is all that, and Odette, too. Then I am satisfied if you are.” Many other long talks did the two have during Mons. Du Bois’s period of leave, and more than one thing was settled during his stay, among them the affair between Gaspard and Annette. The two soldiers went off together and life settled back into its former routine at _Coin-du-Pres_. CHAPTER XVI UPS AND DOWNS