But that is to look far ahead, much further than was possible or desirable for the defenders of Nancy. All that they had to think of was the town and the country and the cause for which they were fighting. All that they had to inspire them was the love of Lorraine and France, and the detestation of what they saw in front of them in the track of the Huns, which filled their hearts with rage and the burning desire for vengeance. In that they were united with the whole people of Lorraine, and because they were united they won. They had their mothers and their wives and their sisters and their sweethearts at their backs. A great deal has been said—but not nearly enough—of the part which the women of France have played in the war. I will not try now to add my personal tribute to the marvellous courage and unremitting self-sacrifice of the section of the French people upon whom the war has borne most cruelly. I will, instead, let one of them speak for herself, and for all the rest. She was writing at the beginning of September, 1914, from Moyen Vic, on the German side of the Lorraine frontier, to her brother at the front, and this is what she said for herself and for another sister:— “MY DEAR EDOUARD,— “I hear the news that Charles and Lucien died on the 28th of August. Eugène is dead too. Rose has disappeared. “Mamma is crying. She says that you must be strong, and wishes you to go and avenge them. “I hope that your officers will not refuse you that. Jean has won the Legion of Honour: you must follow his example. “They have taken everything from us. Out of eleven who were fighting eight are dead. My dear brother, do your duty, that is all we ask. “God gave you your life: He has the right to take it back from you. It is Mamma who says so. “We embrace you with all our heart, though we should long to see you first. The Prussians are here. The young Jandon is dead. They have pillaged everything. I have just come back from Gerbéviller, which is destroyed. The cowards! “Go, my dear brother, make the sacrifice of your life. We have the hope that we shall see you again, for some kind of a presentiment makes us hope. “We embrace you with all our heart. Adieu, and au revoir, if God allows it. “YOUR SISTERS. “It is for us and for France. Think of your brothers and of grandpapa in 1870.” With women like that to encourage and inspire them, with those other women, outraged and murdered, to avenge, with their woman-city of Nancy and their mother-country France to defend, is it any wonder that the men of Lorraine fought as they did, and won? “Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” Yes, but the courage of women—is there anything in the world that passes that, or even equals it? I wonder. CHAPTER XIV BATTLE OF THE GRAND COURONNÉ. III