He, too, was about to leave when he heard a sound of low sobbing from one of the benches.

He stood still to listen, shook his old head, and muttering to himself: "Great God--merciful and kind....

Thou alone canst know wherefore Thou hast set the rose-garland of life with so many sharp thorns," he went up to Agne who rose at his approach.
"Why, my child," he said kindly, "what are you weeping for?
Have you, too, lost some dear one killed in the fray ?" "No, no," she hastily replied with a gesture of terror at the thought.
"What then do you want here at so late an hour ?" "Nothing--nothing," she said.

"That is all over! Good God, how long I must have been sitting here--I--I know I must go; yes, I know it." "And are you alone-no one with you ?" She shook her head sadly.

The old man looked at her narrowly.
"Then I will take you safe home," he said.