So the soldier sighed and said he would advertise the mass, but said he doubted if there was a man in camp that was any more likely to go to it than he was himself. Then there was another surprise for him, for Joan said:
“But, dear man, you are going!”
“I? Impossible! Oh, this is lunacy!”
“Oh, no, it isn’t. You are going to the service—twice a day.”
“Oh, am I dreaming? Am I drunk—or is my hearing playing me false? Why, I would rather go to—”
“Never mind where. In the morning you are going to begin, and after that it will come easy. Now don’t look downhearted like that. Soon you won’t mind it.”
La Hire tried to cheer up, but he was not able to do it. He sighed like a zephyr, and presently said:
“Well, I’ll do it for you, but before I would do it for another, I swear I—”
“But don’t swear. Break it off.”
“Break it off? It is impossible! I beg you to—to—Why—oh, my General, it is my native speech!”