"What can we do?
There are no troops here! I--I must go to my sick boys----" Her heart stood still as a cannon thundered, followed by the fearful sound of the shell as it came tearing toward them.

As it neared, the noise grew deafening; the air vibrated with a rushing sound that rose to a shriek.
Ailsa's hands grasped his arm; her ears seemed bursting with the abominable sound; pain darted through her temples, flashing into agony as a heavy jar shook the house, followed by a dazzling light and roar.
Boom! Boom! came the distant, sullen thunder, followed by the unmistakable whir of a Parrott shell.

Suddenly shrapnel shells began to come over, screaming, exploding, filling the air with the rush and clatter of bullets.
"Lie down," he said.

"You can't go out in this.

It will veer off in a few moments, when they find out that they're shelling our hospitals." "I've got to go," she repeated; "my boys won't understand why I don't come." She turned and opened the door; he caught her in his arms, and she looked up and kissed him.
"Good-bye, dear," she whispered.