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The sick woman made a sign that she wanted to say more, but that she must rest for a moment. Little Perrine waited, her eyes fixed on her mother's face. "You will go to Maraucourt?" said the dying woman after a few moments had passed. "You have no right to claim anything ... what you get must be for yourself alone ... be good, and make yourself loved. All is there ... for you.
In the low-ceiling rooms, where those from outside could see all that was passing within, some were drinking bright colored drinks, others had jugs of cider, while others had on the tables before them black coffee or whisky. And what a tapping of glasses and voices raised in angry dispute! "What a lot of people there seem to be drinking," said Perrine. "That's because it's Sunday.
This evening, therefore, Gabriel, you must become the husband and the protector of Perrine. Listen to me attentively, and I will tell you how."
"We'll take the ten o'clock train," said her mother, "and we will take a cab, for I certainly cannot walk to the station." And yet when nine o'clock the next day came she could not even get to the cab that Perrine had waiting for her. She attempted the few steps from her room to the cab, but would have fallen to the ground had not Perrine held her. "I must go back," she said weakly.
The old woman cut off two yards, and Perrine noticed that it was not white nor shiny like the one she had admired in the window. "Any more?" asked the shopkeeper when she had torn the calico with a sharp, dry rip. "I want some thread also," said Perrine; "a spool of white, number forty." Now it was Perrine's turn to leave the store with her little newspaper parcel hugged tightly to her heart.
I shan't give up to that madness until I've done everything in my power. I would be a criminal myself if I failed to do as Rawlins wishes. If your cousin's skirts are clear no harm will be done. I'm acting on the assumption that your confession was honest. I want you to get Miss Perrine out of her room. I want you to see that she stays downstairs while we search."
Perrine turned the lock. Madame Bretoneux slipped into the room while Perrine turned on the light. "Get into bed again," said Madame Bretoneux, "we can talk just as well." She took a chair and sat at the foot of the bed so that she was full face with Perrine. "I want to talk with you about my brother," she began.
She was interested in everything her governess had to tell her, but her beautiful eyes betrayed the greatest interest when Mlle. Belhomme talked of her grandfather. Many times Perrine had spoken of M. Vulfran's illness to Rosalie, but she had only received vague replies to her queries; now, from her governess, she learned all the details regarding his affliction.
In the astonishment and fright of the first moment, Perrine screamed as she recognized him. "There, there, there!" he said, peevishly, advancing straight to the hearth with his burden; "don't make a noise. You never expected to see us alive again, I dare say. We gave ourselves up as lost, and only escaped after all by a miracle."
The quick words on both sides had been spoken in evident displeasure. Perrine had made herself as small as possible. She had not dared move, but Casimir did not even turn his eyes in her direction, and almost at once he went out, giving his arm to his uncle. Then she was able to give free rein to her thoughts.
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