Like an automaton whose mechanism is breaking, she whirled about rapidly on her heels, then without seeing or thinking of anything ran to hide herself.

She made out a door where a sentinel stood and tried to enter it, but a still more imperious voice called her aside.

With wavering steps she sought the direction of that voice, then felt herself pushed along by the shoulders; she shut her eyes, took a couple of steps, and lacking further strength, let herself fall to the ground, first on her knees and then in a sitting posture.

Dry and voiceless sobs shook her frame convulsively.
Now she was in the barracks among the soldiers, women, hogs, and chickens.

Some of the men were sewing at their clothes while their thighs furnished pillows for their _queridas_, who were reclining on benches, smoking and gazing wearily at the ceiling.