Mother Van Hove struck her hands together in dismay. "I neveronce thought of food!" she cried, "and I sometimes haven't a green cent withme! We cannot buy a breakfast! We must just go hungry until weget home! But soldiers must often go hungry, my little ones. Wemust be as brave as they. Come, now. I will be the captain!Forward march!"

Jan and Marie stiffened their little backs, as she gave the wordof command, and, shoulder to shoulder, they marched down thestreet toward the city gate to the martial refrain, "Le Roi, laloi, la liberte," which Mother Van Hove hummed for them under herbreath.