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Updated: June 10, 2025
But if Perrine had all the relations against her, she knew that she had M. Vulfran's friendship, and the family doctor, Doctor Ruchon, Mlle. Belhomme and Fabry all adored her. Since the doctor had seen that it was the "little girl" who had been the means of his patient exerting this wonderful moral and intellectual energy, his attitude to her expressed the greatest respect and affection.
What she did see the next morning when she was called into M. Vulfran's office after he had given his orders to his principal employés, was such a severe expression on his face that she was thoroughly disconcerted; although the eyes that turned towards her as she entered his room were devoid of look, she could not mistake the expression on this face that she had studied so much.
All this, it seemed, was due exclusively to her knowledge of English. She found it a difficult matter, however, to talk to Perrine alone, who never left M. Vulfran's side unless it was to go to her own room. Madame Bretoneux was in a fever of anxiety to see what was in the girl and discover some reason for her sudden success. At table Perrine said absolutely nothing.
Not only was the office assigned to her cheerful, but she found that by leaving the door open she could see and occasionally hear what was going on in the other offices. Monsieur Vulfran's nephews, Theodore and Casimir, had their rooms on the right and on the left of his; after theirs came the counting house, then lastly, there was Fabry, the engineer's, office. This one was opposite hers.
Now that this beautiful weather has come, you must go out, but you must keep quiet, and I guarantee that as soon as your cough has gone we shall be able to have a successful operation." And the doctor's words came true. A month after M. Vulfran's birthday two specialists came down from Paris to perform the operation. When they wished to put him under an anesthetic he refused.
She was indeed a giant, but her manner seemed very womanly and dignified. At times her manner was almost timid and did not accord at all with her appearance. Naturally she could not refuse anything the all-powerful master of Maraucourt asked, but even if she had had any reasons to refuse M. Vulfran's request the little girl with the beautiful eyes and hair pleased her very much.
Each time that he appeared on the scene Perrine thought that he had come to fetch her, but he passed without saying a word to her. He seemed always in a hurry. Finally some workingmen came out of M. Vulfran's office with a very dissatisfied expression on their faces. Then William came and beckoned to her and showed her into M. Vulfran's office.
Her voice shook so as she said this name that Monsieur Vulfran's attention was attracted. "What's the matter?" he said. "Why are you trembling?" "I don't know," she said, timidly; "perhaps I am nervous." "I told you not to mind," he chided. "You are doing very much better than I thought." She read the cables from Dacca which mentioned a gathering of jute along the shores of the Brahmaputra.
Belhomme, "you must know that M. Vulfran's illness and the continued absence of his son is a cause of anxiety to all this part of the country." "Yes, I have heard that," answered Perrine. "What would become of all those employed in the works, seven thousand, and all those who are dependent on these seven thousand if Monsieur Vulfran should die and his son not return?
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.
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