left to gossip, and to jeer at the passer-by.

At first the young girl did not seem to heed them. She walked quickly
along, looking defiantly before her, carrying her head erect, and
stepping carefully from cobblestone to cobblestone, avoiding the mud,
which could have dirtied her dainty shoes.

The harridans passed the time of day to her, and the time of day meant
some obscene remark unfit for women's ears. The young girl wore a
simple grey dress, with fine lawn kerchief neatly folded across her
bosom, a large hat with flowing ribbons sat above the fairest face
that ever gladdened men's eyes to see.

Fairer still it would have been, but for the look of determination
which made it seem hard and old for the girl's years.

She wore the tricolour scarf round her waist, else she had been more
seriously molested ere now. But the Republican colours were her
safeguard: whilst she walked quietly along, no one could harm her.

Then suddenly a curious impulse seemed to seize her. It was just
outside the large stone house belonging to Citizen-Deputy Deroulede.
She had so far taken no notice of the groups of women which she had
come across. When they obstructed the footway, she had calmly stepped
out into the middle of the road.

It was wise and prudent, for she could close her ears to obscene
language and need pay no heed to insult.

Suddenly she threw up her head defiantly.