Vainly she watched for her. She even permitted herself to walk out, in the hope of meeting Mme. de Calouas. "But, madame," said Amelia, "it is very easy. Every one knows when these ladies come back and forth to the hospital. Madame has only to walk up and down before the great court." It was not till the following Sunday, at eleven o'clock mass, that Odette met Mme. de Calouas and spoke to her. "What!" exclaimed Mme. de Calouas, "you here! What hospital do you belong to?" Odette thought that the nurse had made a mistake, intending to say: "Where are you staying?" "I am at the Elizabeth pavilion." "Is that the new auxiliary post opened for contagious diseases?" "It is just a little villa," said Odette simply. "It is large enough for me alone." "And what are you doing there, good God?" "I came here," said Odette, "that I might mourn for my husband in peace." Mme. de Calouas assumed a suitable expression, but made no reply. Odette continued: "He was killed in the end of September, at the head of his company, going out from the village----" "Yes, I heard," said Mme. de Calouas. "I ought to have sent you a card; but in times like these----" "You yourself are in mourning," observed Odette. "Oh--I! I have lost my husband, my two brothers, my uncle the colonel, several cousins--" She waved her hand with a gesture which signified: "They are past counting!" Before leaving Odette she added: "Come to see me at the hospital, from eight o'clock to noon, and from two to four. From four to six I have another service at the Red Cross, close by. I will show you things. Come." For a long time Odette hesitated. Again she shut herself up with her adored memories. She was irritated that Mme. de Calouas had not said a word about that exquisite man who was her Jean, and whom she had met at the hotel. When she went out it was precisely at an hour when she knew Mme. de Calouas to be at her hospitals. When the sea-wind was too strong she would walk in the dull streets of the deserted summer city, a pleasure resort in which the word "pleasure" had become strange and unfitting. The streets crossed at right angles; nearly all of them were bordered by hedges beyond which one could see a garden, the wire cage of a tennis-court, a Norman villa, and no one. Often, the whole length of her walk she met only one human being, a big man, almost impotent, whose duty it was to sweep up the dead leaves--an absurd duty since the wind scattered them as fast as he swept, and the trees shed down behind him another layer of little golden, rolling, dead things. Sometimes, walking daringly, Odette crossed the long terrace, and braving the wind went as far as to the sea.