When these matters were settled, we refreshed ourselves. How delightful it was after that painful night to take a bath, to loll in an armchair, to sit at table where fresh bread, golden butter, and transparent jam smiled upon us. We found a charm in the smallest pleasures, and thought: "Now we are quiet, now we are in safety, we shall suffer nothing at the hands of the abhorred invader; we shall not see the shadow of their helmets on our walls; we shall not hear the tramping of their horses on our pavements; the booming of their cannon will not roll over our hearts!" But what did we hear? We stood up, speechless with horror. The street rang with loud cries, and those cries were: "The Prussians! The Prussians!" PART II Frenchman! I saw thy child Who cried alone on the road. I have comforted him. I have reassured thy wife. Thy field lay fallow, I have tilled it. When Peace reappears again on earth May thou reap the fruits of my labour! Published in German in the _Lillerzeitung_, translated into French, and reproduced in the _Gazette des Ardennes_. CHAPTER IV Placid and heavy on their placid, heavy horses, they slowly advanced along the street. Of giant stature, they came on, revolver in hand, with the self-reliance of brutal strength. Their red-edged caps made their hard-featured faces still harder. It was a sight to strike Nature herself with horror, and, hidden behind the muslin curtains, we sobbed bitterly. The guests, huddled together in the dimly lighted room. Were silently weeping; the women crossed themselves, and watched over their children as if it were old Bogy's steps they heard. The men tugged nervously at their moustaches, and shook their fists in the empty air. Our gestures made the poor people uneasy. "Heavens!" the women groaned, "don't show your face at the window!" "Don't open the curtains!" "Don't draw their attention to the house!"