The New Magdalene A Novel Author:Wilkie Collins General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1873 Original Publisher: B. Tauchnitz Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can se... more »lect from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER III. The German Shell. A Third rifle-shot rang through the night air, close to the cottage. Grace started and drew back from the window in alarm. "What does that firing mean?" she asked. "Signals from the outposts," the nurse quietly replied. "Is there any danger? Have the Germans come back?" Surgeon Surville answered the question. He lifted the canvas screen, and looked into the room as Miss Roseberry spoke. "The Germans are advancing on us," he said. "Their vanguard is in sight." Grace sank on the chair near her, trembling from head to foot. Mercy advanced to the surgeon, and put the decisive question to him: "Do we defend the position?" she inquired. Surgeon Surville ominously shook his head. "Impossible! We are out-numbered as usual -- ten to pne." The shrill roll of the French drums was heard outside. "There is the retreat sounded!" said the surgeon. "The captain is not a man to think twice about what he does. We are left to take care of ourselves. In five minutes we must be out of this place." A volley of rifle-shots rang out as he spoke. The German vanguard was attacking the French at the outposts. Grace caught the surgeon entreatingly by the arm. "Take me with you," she cried. "Oh, sir, I have suffered from the Germans already! Don't forsake me, if they come back!" The surgeon was equal to the occasion; he placed the hand of the pretty Englishwoman on his breast. "Fear nothing, madam," he said, looking as if he could have annihilated the whole German force with his own invincible arm. "A Frenchman's heart beats under your hand. A Frenchman'...« less