THE STANDARD-BEARER 81

felt a shudder run through him. All
the other standard-bearers were there,
fifty or sixty officers, downcast, silent ;
and then those gloomy carts under the
rain, and those men behind with their
heads uncovered ; why, it looked like
a funeral !

In one corner all the flags of the
army of Bazaine lay in a heap, tumbled
together on the miry pavement. No
sadder sight than these rags of bright
silk, these fragments of golden fringes
and carved poles, all this glorious array
thrown on the ground, soiled with rain
and mud. An officer in command
took them up one by one, and at the
name of his regiment each ensign-
bearer came forward to take a receipt.
Stiff and emotionless two Prussian
officers superintended the discharge.

And thus, thus, ye passed, ye holy
and glorious rags, displaying your
wounds, sweeping the pavement sadly
like the broken wings of a bird. Ye

passed, with the shame of fair things
G