XIX. SPINCOURT 288 XX. THE WAR BEGINS 296 PART III _BOOK VII_ _August 25th-September 2nd_ I. IN RETREAT 307 II. DARK DAYS 314 III. STRENGTH OF MIND 323 IV. OH, MY FRIENDS 330 V. A SHADOW ON THE PICTURE 337 VI. THE POILUS 349 VII. SOCIALISM 357 VIII. A TEMPTATION 362 IX. AT PEACE WITH MYSELF 372 _BOOK VIII_ _September 2nd-7th_ X. NEWS AT LAST 379 XI. THE CATHEDRAL 386 XII. PESSIMISM 394 XIII. A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER 401 XIV. HIGH STRATEGY 410 XV. A WORD IN SEASON 419 _BOOK IX_ _September 7th-9th_ XVI. FINAL ANTICIPATION 433 XVII. WE TAKE UP OUR POSITION 441 XVIII. THE FIRST IMPACT 447 XIX. HOLDING OUT 453 XX. WE ARE NOT DEFEATED 460 XXI. THE CULMINATION 470 XXII. SERENITY 478 PART IV _BOOK X_ _Epilogue_ I. APPREHENSIONS 485 II. RELIEF 494 III. A SUNLIT CONVALESCENCE 500 IV. THE AWAKENING 509 V. A GIRL OF 1915 519 PART I _BOOK I_ _August 1, 1914_ CHAPTER I JEANNINE LANDRY I can see myself again on that afternoon walking up and down the platform of Vallorbe Station. At my side little André, aged twelve, sailor-collared and bare-legged, besieged me with questions concerning sport. It was his craze. I did my best to give him the information he wanted, while waiting impatiently for his people to reappear. I had offered to look after the ladies' luggage, but the grandmother had declined my help with thanks. Jeannine was so capable! These little jobs amused her. The girl came out on to the platform towards us, and wanted to take back her dressing bag. I refused to allow it. Madame Landry joined us. I took her to a seat but she refused to sit down, she was not tired. I always admired her, slim and alert at over sixty.