CHAPTERIX

chapterix

someofourofficersstationedinamiens,andbilletedinprivatehouses,becameveryfriendlywiththefamilieswhoreceivedthem.younggirlsofgoodmiddleclass,thedaughtersofshopkeepersandschoolmasters,andmerchantsinagoodwayofbusiness,founditdelightfultowaitonhandsomeyoungenglishmen,toteachthemfrench,totakewalkswiththem,andtoarrangemusicaleveningswithothergirlfriendswhobroughttheiryoungofficersandsanglittleoldfrenchsongswiththemorenglishsongsintheprettiestfrenchaccent.theseyoungofficersofoursfoundthehomelifeverycharming.itbrokethemonotonyofexileandmadethemforgettheevilsideofwar.theypaidlittlegallantriestothegirls,boughtthemboxesofchocolateuntilfancychocolatewasforbiddeninfrance,andpresentedflowerstodecoratethetable,andwroteamusingversesintheirautographalbumsordrewsketchesforthem.asthiswentontheygainedtotheprivilegeofbrotherhood,andtherewerekissesbeforesaying“goodnight”outsidebedroomdoors,whiletheparentsdownstairswerenottoowatchful,knowingthewaysofyoungpeople,andlenientbecauseoftheirhappiness.thenadaycameineachoneofthesehouseholdswhentheofficerbilletedtherewasorderedawaytosomeotherplace.whattears!whatlamentations!andwhatpromisesnevertoforgetlittlejeannewithherdarktresses,orsuzannewiththemerryeyes!weretheynotengaged?notformally,perhaps,butinhonorandinlove.foratimelettersarrived,eagerlywaitedforbygirlswithachinghearts.thenpicturepost-cardswithalineortwoofaffectionategreeting.thennothing.nothingatall,monthaftermonth,inspiteofallthelettersaddressedwithallthequeerinitialsformilitaryunits.soithappenedagainandagain,untilbitternesscreptintogirls'hearts,andhardnessandcontempt.

“inmyownlittlecircleoffriends,”saidaladyofamiens,“iknoweighteengirlswhowereengagedtoenglishofficersandhavebeenforsaken.itisnotfair.itisnotgood.yourenglishyoungmenseemsoserious,farmoreseriousthanourfrenchboys.theyhavealookofshynesswhichwefinddelightful.theyaretimid,atfirst,andblushwhenonepaysaprettycompliment.theyarealongtimebeforetheytakeliberties.sowetrustthem,andtakethemseriously,andallowintimacieswhichweshouldrefusetofrenchboysunlessformallyengaged.butitisallcamouflage.atheartyourenglishyoungmenarejustflirts.theyplaywithus,makefoolsofus,stealourhearts,andthengoaway,andoftendonotsendsomuchasapost-card.notevenonelittlepost-cardtothegirlswhoweeptheirheartsoutforthem!youenglishareallhypocrites.youboastthatyou'playthegame.'iknowyourphrase.itisuntrue.

“youplaywithgoodgirlsasthoughtheyweregrues,andthatnofrenchmanwoulddaretodo.heknowsthedifferencebetweengoodgirlsandbadgirls,andbehaves,withreverencetothosewhoaregood.whentheenglisharmygoesawayfromfranceitwillleavemanybittermemoriesbecauseofthat.”