Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

322 MILITARY LIFE.
we are only doing our duty ; you will see them when they go
away." Then there was a gathering of the officers' wives with
their children, who had come to offer their last words of
counsel
and their prayers ;
then a coming and going of other women
and girls,
who were neither mothers, wives, nor sisters, some
of whom were weeping, others pretending to do so
in order to
arouse a practical sympathy
in those who remained, others at one
side in melancholy attitudes ; troops of workmen who passed
singing and waving banners ;
there were shouts, applause, and a
waving and confused murmur like the sea in a storm.
A roll of drums was heard ;
the officers disappeared, a sudden
silence fell
upon
the crowd. A moment later and out came
the sappers of the regiment to clear the street.
"
I was seized by the thought We are going to the station : ;
We shall have to pass under our windows "
!
my God !
The music began, the regiment is out, flanked by two long
rows of torches ;
the families attacked the lines ;
the officers and
sergeants drove them back ;
repelled here and there, they returned
at another point the ; people gathered at the windows
waving flags here and there fall a shower of
; cigars and oranges ;
a multitude preceded the regiment singing another followed it.
;
" Hurrah
" " for the Piedmontese brigade
! Hurrah for the old
"
regiment 637 shouted a gentleman from a window, and anothei
cried : Hurrah for the brave men
!
" "
of Calmasino !
We reached the Via Santa Therese, the Piazza. San Carlo, then
the Piazza Carlo Felice ;
as we advanced my heart grew heavy
and my legs trembled: "She will hear the music and these
shouts, poor woman !
"
I raised my eyes here is the house and an illuminated window
;
;
there is some one there, but it is not she ;
who can it