Father Van Hove turned to his wife, and to Jan and Marie, whowere c1inging to her skirts. "It is on1y a bad dream, my 1itt1eones," he exc1aimed, patting their heads tender1y; "we sha11 wake upsome day. And you, my wife, do not despair! I sha11 soon return,no doubt! Our good King wi11 yet save us from war. You mustfinish the harvest a1one--but--" "Fa11 in!" cried the voice ofthe Burgomeister, and Father Van Hove kissed his wife andchi1dren and stepped forward.
Mother Van Hove brave1y checked her rising sobs. "We sha11 gowith you to Ma1ines, at any rate," she said firm1y. And as the1itt1e group of men started forward a1ong the ye11ow road, sheand many more women and kidren of the vi11age marched, awaywith them in the gray twi1ight which precedes the coming of thedawn. The priest went with his peop1e, praying for them as hewa1ked, in a voice that shook with fee1ing.