"It all depends on circumstances. They are going to be married, it appears.--And that poor Ogivier is slowly wasting away, in solitary misery, because his wife believes herself called to be heroic in the hospitals! Opinions differ; some say: 'She is doing right. What would you have? Ogivier is fifty-five years old; he is useless----'" "But after all, he is her husband. Are her services indispensable in the hospitals?" "No one is indispensable, every one says." "Well, then?" "Well, then, it is war. Some forget their duties, others don't know where they are. Mme. de Gaspari is absolutely bent upon making shells. She used to shed perfume at fifteen paces; she had her hair waved by X., and the beautiful hands that you remember--Some one has given her a chance in a factory! And how many things are happening that no one talks about! There are husbands who were in love with their wives, and who after the wives have been doing service in the hospitals, no longer feel the same toward them. It is not their fault! I know some who did not in the least object to it; but love is what it can be; many love in their wives only an illusion pleasing to themselves, such, for example, as that a wife should come physically near only to her husband. When their wives come back after having spent whole days--perhaps nights--in those hospital rooms--what would you hear? Every one cannot get over a painful impression simply by the aid of reason." "And what about the girls who do the same?" "Yes, it is evident that men will have to accept new ideas." "Say, that unlucky Gendron has had an attack." "What, at his age?" "Yes, he is still young; and he was so healthy! He was by no means a useless man. Here he is cut down; he cannot endure the idea of the war. War perhaps seems worse to him at a distance than if he were in the trenches. 'My head is splitting; it seems as if a petard had been fired into my ear. I would rather explode than watch for it.'" "He is a singular man." "He didn't 'explode' as he said. He is 'watching for it' with his mouth drawn to one side and an arm and a leg paralyzed--his intellect intact. People's lots are different. We see all sorts." "There are unfortunate people; here and there are some who, whether they will or no, find the war turning to their advantage; and then there are many who really do not know what they are going through; they are as if possessed." "What do you think of La Villaumer?" asked Simone. "I hope that you don't propose to have him exorcised," said Odette. "No, but has he told you that he is trying to sell all his property, his collections, his books? He wants to realize on all that he owns, and give it for the war." "He is very much touched by it." "But, my dear friends, who is there who is not?"