The girl sat quite still for a few moments; then looking up at him, and very pale in the starlight:
"Do you think they will tear me to pieces, monsieur?"
He said:
"I mean to hold those stairs with my sack of bombs until our people enter the trenches. If they can do it in an hour we will be all right."
"Yes."
"It is only a half-hour affair from our salient. I allow our people an hour."
"Yes."
"But if, even now, you had rather go back——"
"No!"
"There is no disgrace in going back."