From the east, indeed, came the distant sounds of explosions and intermittent rifle firing.

Mrs.Warren was blanched with fear, her cheeks a dull peach colour.

She questioned the people in French and Flemish, but they only answered vaguely in raucous voices: "Les Allemands!" "De Duitscher." One old woman, however, had flung herself down by the roadside, while her patient dog lay between the shafts of the little cart till she should be pleased to go on.

She was more communicative and told Mrs.Warren a tale too horrible to be believed, about husband, son, son-in-law all killed, daughter violated and killed too, cottage in flames, livestock driven off.

Recovering from her exhaustion she rose and shook herself.