Everyone became more and more ill-tempered.

Monsieur Madinier suggested some singing, but Bibi-the-Smoker, who had a fine voice, had disappeared some time before; and Mademoiselle Remanjou, who was leaning out of the window, caught sight of him under the acacias, swinging round a big girl who was bare-headed.

The cornet-a-piston and two fiddles were playing "_Le Marchand de Moutarde_." The party now began to break up.

My-Boots and the Gaudrons went down to the dance with Boche sneaking along after them.

The twirling couples could be seen from the windows.