Soon she knew there was no longer any hope. "At least," she said to the doctor, "you can keep him alive--she will come----"
The agony was long, very long and the wife did not come. She sent for her again. What could be the matter?
On seeing her dear dead, an ineffable sadness engrossed her and big, silent tears fell from her eyes----
An attendant approached her--she turned her head and wiped her eyes----
"Someone there to see your wounded, madame--" said the man who did not know----
Paralyzed, fixed to the floor, she could not move. She saw coming toward her, shrouded in an impressive silence, a woman--one of those women of France, good mother, good wife, good patriot, accustomed from youth to go through a harsh and bitter life as the wife of a laboring man, with serenity----
She went straight to him. The nurse followed her with her glance. She could no longer see her face, but saw the woman bend a great while over her dead. Of what was she thinking? Of the Calvary of her man, of his wound, of his agony, or rather of her own sadness, or the children for whom she would have to struggle----
"Is it you, madame, who have cared for him? Permit me to kiss you."
An élite Division was _au repos_[29] in a pretty little village on the Meuse where the houses are gray and from where one can hear the cannon at Verdun, like a spring thunderstorm.
General Pétain has gone to spend a few hours with these heroes, accompanied by my worthy comrade de Buisseret.
[Illustration: The mud in Fumin-wood (Verdun)]
The brave _poilus_ do not permit themselves the pleasures of complete inactivity. Whatever spot they may find themselves in, they organize and "dig themselves in" as if they must remain for the rest of their lives!
A _poilu_ is working arduously over a little board hut. He has running around him two of his "loves," small pigs, plump and rosy. It is understood they will be eaten, but not before the squad finds them completely "_à point_."[30] While waiting it is necessary to keep them in a shelter and our _poilu_ will quickly finish the sumptuous dwelling for his favorites.
My comrade, busy looking around while awaiting the general, becomes interested in the conscientious labors of the man----