The Sisters of Mercy who had tended it were still there, but the wards were now deserted.

Not that the wars afforded no occupants for them, but the approach of the republicans had frightened away even the maimed and sick.

On the following morning Madame de Lescure declared that she could no longer endure the slow progress of the waggon, and consequently, Chapeau having with difficulty succeeded in procuring three horses, she started, accompanied by him and her sister-in-law, to make her way as best she could to her husband, while the Marquis and his daughter, with a guide, followed in the cumbrous waggon.
On the second day the equestrians crossed the Sevre, at Mortaigne, and reached Torfou in safety.

On the third day they passed Montfaucon, and were struggling to get on to a village called Chaudron, not far from St.
Florent, when we overtook them at the beginning of the chapter.
They had already, however, began to doubt that they could possibly succeed in doing so.

The shades of evening were coming on them.