Or,
"Courage, Standard-Bearer! courage! Did we not carry the battery at Fleuries?"
But he did not reply; every minute he sighed, and the old friends made signs to each other, shaking their heads, as if to say:
"This looks bad."
I hastened to regulate the clock and depart, for to see the poor old man in such a plight made my heart bleed.
When I arrived at home, I found Monsieur Goulden at his work-bench.
"You are returned, Joseph," said he. "Well?"
"Well, Monsieur Goulden, you had reason to stay away; it is terrible."
And I told him all in detail.
He arose. I set the table, and, whilst we were dining in silence, the bells of the steeples began to ring.