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Perrine's eyes had not left his face; if she had seen that her story did not interest him, she would have stopped at once, but she knew that he was not bored. He interrupted her several times and said: "And you did that!" Then he questioned her, asking her to tell him in detail what she had omitted for fear of tiring him.
At the first words Perrine was reassured; if it was only of M. Vulfran's health that she wanted to speak she had nothing to fear. "I think you are a very intelligent girl," said Mme. Bretoneux with a flattering, ingratiating smile. At these words and the look which accompanied them Perrine's suspicions were aroused at once.
What M. Vulfran desired most, now that he had seen Perrine's sweet face, was to go out and see his works, but this needed great precaution, and the trip had to be postponed for a time, for he did not wish to be closed up in a landau with the windows up, but to use his old phaeton and be driven by Perrine and show himself with her everywhere. For that they had to wait for a warm, sunny day.
However, he was rather flattered at the possession of so important a story just now, and in obedience to Aunt Perrine's nod seated himself with dignity on the lowest step of the garret-stairs, holding carefully his old felt hat, which he had decorated with streaming weepers of crape. Dode, pressing her hands to her ears, heard only the dull drone of their voices.
One evening, while this frightful persecution was still raging, Gabriel happened to be detained unusually late at the cottage of Perrine's father. He had lately spent much of his time at the farm house; it was his only refuge now from that place of suffering, of silence, and of secret shame, which he had once called home!
Finally, on the eve of her departure, she decided to go to Perrine's own room. Perrine, who thought that she had got rid of her, was sleeping peacefully. A few knocks on the door awoke her. She sat up in bed and listened. Another knock. She got up and went to the door. "Who is there?" she asked, without opening it. "Open the door, it is I ... Madame Bretoneux," said a voice.
"You know," said Rosalie, "this is fresh straw; they never give old straw to anyone to sleep on. In the hotels they do that sort of thing, but we don't here." Although there were too many beds in the little room, there was not one chair. "There are some nails on the walls," said Rosalie, in reply to Perrine's questioning look; "you can hang your clothes up there."
The effect was nearly instantaneous; the sinking vital forces rallied desperately. The old man's eyes opened again, wandered round the room, then fixed themselves intently on Francois as he stood near the fire. Trying and terrible as his position was at that moment, Gabriel still retained self-possession enough to whisper a few words in Perrine's ear.
But although he did little talking he made enough noise with his hammer. At sunset Perrine's room was ready. Her mother, as she was helped in, looked at the flowers with surprise and pleasure. "How good you are to your mama, darling," she murmured as she clung to Perrine's arm. "How good I am to myself," Perrine cried gayly, "because if I do anything that pleases you, I am so happy."
Clearly and without repetition, she explained to each one what orders were given to him; then she interpreted for the chief machinist the questions or objections which the French workmen desired to address to him. Perrine's grandfather had drawn near. The voices stopped as the tap of his cane announced his approach, but he made a sign for them to continue the same as though he were not there.
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