Coming to the top of a rise they stopped short. The steady thunder of the guns became suddenly audible and against the green background of distant woods little puffs of smoke that seemed born of nothing were breaking and spreading into a mist which was as innocent-looking as a fleecy cloud on a summer day.
"One cannot realise what is going on there," remarked Phil, "though we shall if it comes to us."
"Then we go into the cellar, don't we, and wait?"
"I believe that is the rule," he said. "You've a good spirit."
"That is easy when a woman has a man along whom she can rely upon," she replied cheerfully. "We have not been used to having a man at Mervaux."
When they entered the house they found that Helen was still absent. Jacqueline did not know where she had gone.
"I suppose the first thing is to settle down again," said Henriette.
Phil took her bag upstairs. When he returned to the sitting-room Helen was just entering.
"You!" she exclaimed. "I——" and she paused, no words coming to her. When she had thought that the house, the world, and the battle were hers came this intrusion by the one person whom she did not wish to see again! She ought to welcome him and she could not break silence.
"We could not let you remain here alone when we heard that you were going to stay," he explained. "In fact, could you expect any decent cousin to do otherwise?" he added.