When they landed on French soil, they were received with great jubilation.
"_Vive les anglais!_" was the cry on every hand. Old men with tears in their eyes welcomed them; old women vied with each other in showering blessings upon them; young girls followed them with shouts of laughter, yet with sobs in their laughter, and wished them every blessing.
"Yes, monsieur," cried an old dame to Bob, as he entered a fruit-shop, "take what you will. You English are our friends, our saviours. We French did not want to fight, but the Germans forced us. And then, voilà! You came forward like the friends you are, and you say, 'Down with the German eagle. France shall have fair play.' No, no, I will take no payment. Take what you will."
"But you are, perhaps, poor, madame!" urged Bob. "This war has made it hard for you."
"Hard! Ah, you say the truth. We have a garden near by. My husband and sons worked in it--now they are all gone. My husband and four sons went, but two of my sons are dead--killed."
"And is not that death? What is life in a German prison but death? But, never mind, I have my husband and two sons still alive--but no, I will not take your money. Perhaps you have a mother, young monsieur?"
"Yes," replied Bob, and the picture of his mother sitting alone in the old home at St. Ia flashed before his eyes.
"Ah, yes, I see," said the old woman. "I see. But perhaps you have brothers, sisters?"
"Yes, but she wanted me to go. She was angry with me for keeping back so long."
"Ah, that is the true woman. She hates the Germans?"
"No, we have friends there. But she wanted me to be here for duty's sake, and for England's honour."
"Ah, yes--England's honour. You promised Belgium, didn't you? And then there is the _Entente Cordiale_. _Vive l'Entente Cordiale_, monsieur! Ah, must you go? There is nothing else you will take?"
"Nothing, madame. Good-bye. God be with you."
"If you meet my husband, Alphonse Renaud is his name, or my two sons, Jean and Albert, you will tell them you saw me, spoke to me."
"And when the war is over, and if you return this way, you will call and see me, won't you? Adieu, monsieur, and the good God be with you."
Bob felt all the better for the old woman's simple talk. She was only a commonplace old dame, but a kindly heart beat in her bosom. After all, this war, ghastly as it was, was bringing a thousand noble qualities to light, and it was certainly bringing the French and the English more closely together. There was a bond of sympathy, of brotherhood, existing, which was never felt before.