"She's looking for you!"
He was off with a bound.
The instinct to see, to know what is going on is infinitely stronger than that of self preservation. Many a soldier has told me that, and I have often had occasion to prove it personally.
Some of the women started towards the street.
"We're only going as far as the door," said they by way of excuse. "You're really quite safe beneath the portico." And they carried their babies with them.
So when the final signal of safety was sounded, there remained below but a few old women, a couple of very small children, and Monsieur Leddin, whom nothing seemed to disturb.
The mothers returned to fetch their children. The old ladies and Monsieur Leddin were aroused.
"C'est fini! Ah!"
And in the courtyard one could hear them calling as they dispersed.
"Good-night, Madame Cocard."