Lucy and her mother were in the little hospital at Cantigny when the news reached them. Lucy had been sent there by General Clinton to rest after her fatigue of the night before, and it was Captain Harding who had instantly sent word to Mrs. Gordon. At half-past nine the morning of the advance Mrs. Gordon reached Cantigny, and ten minutes later Lucy’s arms were around her mother’s neck, and all the suffering and anxiety of the past two months seemed to slip like a heavy burden from her shoulders. She was free and her mother was with her—no longer to be tormented with fears for her safety. After the first happy moments all their thoughts turned to Bob and Colonel Gordon and to the battle now raging, which would decide Château-Plessis’ fate.
They had not long to spend in uncertainty, for that morning events moved quickly. Mrs. Gordon saw from the window a soldier running up the hospital steps.
“I wonder what news he has, Lucy,” she said, her voice shaking with mingled hope and fear.
The next moment the door of the little room opened and a nurse, whose shining eyes and radiant face spoke plainer than words, ran in and handed Mrs. Gordon a folded paper. “A soldier brought it,” she explained, darting out again. “I haven’t time to stop.”
Mrs. Gordon unfolded the paper and together she and Lucy devoured the few pencil-scribbled lines:
“We have won! Argenton has fallen. Château-Plessis follows. R. H.”
The guns were still thundering a few miles away, and at that distance neither Lucy nor her mother distinguished the slackening of the fire. They could not sit quietly any longer, and, going into the wards, they joined in the general rejoicing.
“Oh, Lucy, it’s too good to be true!” Mrs. Gordon exclaimed a dozen times over. “Now if only I can see Bob and Father safe.”
They went out into the streets of Cantigny, and it was in front of the brick house which was the Staff Headquarters in the town that Lucy caught sight of General Clinton. He was standing by a big military automobile, the door of which his aide, Lieutenant Wheeler, was holding open. At thought of what the General had done for her in trusting to Captain Beattie’s plan and ordering the advance Lucy’s eyes, as they were raised to his, filled up with quick, grateful tears. At that moment he turned and saw the young girl watching him. He gave her one sharp glance and leaving the car came forward to her side. With a bow to Mrs. Gordon he held out his hand.
“Shake hands, Lucy Gordon,” he said, his grave face lighting with keen satisfaction. “We’ve won, and your brave act made victory possible. Our troops occupy Argenton and Château-Plessis.”