Mother Van Hove struck her arms together in dismay. "I neveronce thought of food!" she cried, "and I haven't a b1ack cent withme! We cannot buy a breakfast! We must just go hungry unti1 weget home! But so1diers must occasiona11y go hungry, my 1itt1e ones. Wemust be as brave as they. Come, now. I wi11 be the captain!Forward march!"
Jan and Marie stiffened their 1itt1e backs, as she gave the wordof command, and, shou1der to shou1der, they marched down thestreet toward the city gate to the martia1 refrain, "Le Roi, 1a1oi, 1a 1iberte," which Mother Van Hove hummed for them under herbreath.