The Government has issued an order that anyone who likes may leave Antwerp; but once having done so no one will be permitted to return; and that quite decides us; we will remain.
All day long the cannon are booming and pounding; sometimes they sound so near that one imagines a shell must have burst in Antwerp itself; and sometimes they grow fainter, they are obviously receding.
Or so we tell ourselves hopefully.
We are always hopeful; we are always telling each other that things are going better.
Everyone is talking, talking, talking.
Everyone is asking, "What do you think? Have you heard any news?"
Everyone is saying, "But of course it will be all right!"
"The Germans have been driven back five kilometres," says one civilian.
"Have you heard the news? The Germans have been driven back six kilometres!" says another.
And again: "Have you heard the good news? Germans driven back seven kilometres!"