17/20 An officer near reproached me bitterly for my cowardice. 'Alas!' replied I, 'it is excusable in a wretched woman to crouch down when a whole army has taken to flight!' In fact, the firing continued so violently that all of our people who had paused recommenced flying for their lives. Had it been daylight, perhaps they might have been recalled. He and Henri had been for a long time vainly endeavouring to reanimate the soldiers. Henri hurried towards me, exclaiming, 'You are saved!'-- 'I thought you were lost," cried I, 'since we are beaten.' He wrung my hand, saying, 'I would I were dead!' "About twelve leagues from Le Mans, I stopped in a village: a great part of the army had also halted there. |