Fatigue, watching, still more the heat on the terrace, was telling
heavily upon the strength of the garrison. The ladies went about
their work quietly and almost silently. The constant anxiety and
the confinement in the darkened rooms were telling upon them too.
Several of the children were ill; and when not employed in other
things, there were fresh sandbags to be made by the women, to take
the place of those damaged by the enemy's shot.
When, of an evening, a portion of the defenders came off duty,
there was more talk and conversation, as all endeavored to keep
up a good face and assume a confidence they were far from feeling.
The Doctor was perhaps the most cheery of the party. During the
daytime he was always on the roof, and his rifle seldom cracked in
vain. In the evening he attended to his patients, talked cheerily
to the ladies, and laughed and joked over the events of the day.
None among the ladies showed greater calmness and courage than
Mrs. Rintoul, and not a word was ever heard from the time the siege
began of her ailments or inconveniences. She was Mrs. Hunter's
best assistant with the sick children. Even after her husband was
wounded, and her attention night and day was given to him, she
still kept on patiently and firmly.
"I don't know how to admire Mrs. Rintoul enough," Mrs. Hunter said
to Isobel Hannay one day; "formerly I had no patience with her,
she was always querulous and grumbling; now she has turned out a
really noble woman.
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