Nobody's Girl

n either side, Perrine could see beyond the hil

mansion soon, then the factories. We shan't see the village until we get down

eau towering grandly above the trees, with its fa?ade of stone gabled roofs and chimneys standing o

e to step out. This made them jolt the basket, whereupon R

don't you?" said Rosalie,

utiful," said

ters over there at the end of the park. That place over there is the electric power house for lighting up the chateau. Fine, ain't it? And you should see the in

sion of buildings, some old, some new, just a great gray mass with big, tall chimneys everywhere. Then they came to the first houses

e windows of which were thrown wide open. A mass of people, people everywhere. In the low-ceiling rooms, where those from outside could see all that was passing within, some were drink

there seem to be dri

two weeks' pay yesterday. They can't

try, at least in the painting that embellished the doors and windows. This attracted the eye like a sign. And in truth it was a sign, for

the house was a store where general provisions were sold, and also liquor. The floors above were rented to the best lodgers, and behind the house was a buildin

till young, called out from the doorway: "Hurry up, you slo

e," whispered Rosalie;

g there?" yelled th

here to help carry this basket I would

ter hold y

h a shrill tone that they broug

on at now, Zenobie?

grandmother; but the basket'

idly; "put it down and go and get your sup

out in a minute and we'll have supper together. You go and buy your

at a table under a big apple tree. On the table

share my stew,

hesitate

you can. I asked my grandm

uld accept this hospitality, so she sat d

lie, with her mouth full of stew. "You've only to give you

the yard; the rest of it was hidden by the brick house. It looked suc

h the money that she got when she was nurse for Monsieur Edmond. You won't be comfortable do

eed that th

about forty years of age, grave, stiff, wearing a coat buttoned

e's reading his Bible

ntleman's occupation, she said: "Monsieur

hout raising his e

re he lifted his eyes an

lish girl?" he

as," replied Perrine

word he went on

upper when a carriage coming alo

arriage!" cried Rosalie, getting up

ave her place, but she

ng for an old man with white hair, who, although se

ent up to

id the young man, who

demanded M.

who replied t

ie, monsieu

to come and speak to

e and came hurrying bac

eur Vulfran," sa

ay, Fra

or you, sir; I'm

e from his place. His drunken wife was the only p

Amiens; he com

is hall to some rascals to hold a public meeting

ey've rent

ut him out. That's one of the conditions that I made. I'll

been some at

ge to become like those at Flexelles. It's my duty to guard agains

, Monsieu

in his ve

is Ro

, Monsieur

ut a ten

for you,"

ulfran," said Rosalie, tak

ggy we

which they had been spoken. "I don't wish that meeting to take place." She had never heard anyone speak like that before. The tone

ned to her se

oine gave me ten

him," repl

won't know, or she'll t

d not seem as though he

he's my godfather!"

osalie?' when you were s

's blind," answere

" cried

quite softly to hers

ong?" she asked, in

one day he couldn't see to read, then he went quite blind. Think what it would have meant to the town if he had been obliged to give up his factories! But no; he wasn't going to give them up; not he! He goes to busi

ie came to

ou finished, you youn

nute got through," answ

ome customers to w

osalie, regretfully. "Sor

e," said little P

ou ton

ep Rosalie got up and dra