"Forgive me, doctor; I have been in the wrong," said Hullin, warmly pressing his hand. "During the last week so many things have happened. You cannot always think of everybody; and, besides, a man like you does not require to be warned of his duty to fulfil it."
The doctor's brow relaxed. "All this is very well, and very good," he exclaimed; "but that does not alter the fact that, by your neglect, I might have arrived too late. All the good places are taken, the crosses distributed. Come, lead me to the general, that I may prefer my complaint to him."
"I am the general, and I appoint you surgeon-in-chief to the forces."
"Surgeon-in-chief to the forces of the Vosges! Well, that will suit me. No malice, Jean-Claude." Then, approaching the cart, the worthy man told Catherine that he should depend upon her for the organization of the ambulances.
"Make your mind easy, doctor," replied the farm-mistress; "all shall be ready. Louise and I will make that our special care from this very evening; will we not, Louise?"
"Oh, yes! Mother Lefévre," murmured the young girl, enchanted to see that they had actually commenced the campaign; "we will work hard, day and night, if needs be. M. Lorquin may make his mind quite easy."
"Well, then, forward! You dine with us, doctor."
The little cart set out at full trot; all along the road, the good doctor laughingly recounted to Catherine how the news of the general rising had reached him; the despair of his old housekeeper, Marie, who strove hard to prevent his going to be massacred by the kaiserlicks; in short, the different episodes of his journey from Quibolo to the village of Charmes. Hullin, Materne, and his boys walked a few steps behind, with gun on shoulder, and in this way they ascended the mountain, and directed their steps towards the farm of Bois-de-Chênes.
