They were astonished to find it no longer the silent
and dim sanctuary to which they were accustomed. The Abbe' was
there, and the Verger, looking quite distracted, was directing a
group of men in moving the praying-chairs from the western end of
the Cathedral, and the space where they had been was already
covered with heaps of straw. Under the great choir at the western
end there were piles of broken glass. Part of the wonderful rose
window had been shattered by a shell, and lay in a million
fragments on the stone floor.
Mother Meraut clasped her hands in dismay. "What does it all
mean?" she demanded of the Verger, as he went tap-tapping by
after the workmen. "What do you wish me to do?"
"Gather up every fragment of glass," said the Verger briefly,
"and put them in a safe place. The wounded are on the way, and
are to be housed in the Cathedral. We must be ready for them.
There is no time to lose."
As Mother Meraut flew to carry out his directions, the Abbe'
beckoned to the children. "Can you be trusted to do an errand for
me?" he said.
"Yes, Your Reverence," answered Pierre.
"Very well," said the Abbe. "I want you to get for the towers two
Red Cross flags. They must be the largest size, and we must have
them soon. The wounded may arrive at any moment now, and the Red
Cross will protect the Cathedral from shell-fire, for not even
Germans would destroy a hospital." He gave them careful
directions, and a note for the shop-keeper.
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