There were bolts of cloth and woolen garments and wooden shoes,
and yarn for knitting. There were even knitting-needles! And,
best of all, there was food, food such as they had not seen in
many weary months. Ah, it was indeed marvelous what that truck
contained!
The buying began at once, and never before had any one been able
to purchase so much for a franc! Soon there was nothing left in
the truck but some bedding and other articles belonging to the
Doctor and Mademoiselle, as the people at once began to call her.
"Will you not come with me to my apartment in the stable?" said
Mother Meraut cordially to the two women. "You must be tired from
your journey."
"We must first see the Commandant at the camp," said the Doctor,
"and then we shall be happy if you will find some lunch for us.
It is necessary to see at once if our houses have come."
"Your houses!" cried Pierre, so surprised that he quite forgot
his manners. "But, Madame, it is not possible that you carry your
houses with you like the snails?"
The Doctor laughed. "Not just like the snails," she said; "our
houses have been sent on ahead of us in sections, with the army
supplies, and are no doubt here in the care of the Commandant."
"Go, my Pierre, conduct them to the camp," said his Mother, "and
when you come back," she added, turning to the two women, "I will
have ready for you the best that my poor house affords." The
Doctor and Mademoiselle thanked Mother Meraut, and then,
following Pierre, started down the river road toward the camp a
mile or more away.
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