When he's gone through them once, he
goes over them again and again. Every Sunday he does the same thing. All
the same, he's a very fine man."

CHAPTER VIII

GRANDFATHER VULFRAN

Through the great trees which framed the road on either side, Perrine
could see beyond the hill the tops of some high chimneys and buildings.

"We're coming to Maraucourt," said Rosalie; "you'll see Monsieur
Paindavoine's mansion soon, then the factories. We shan't see the
village until we get down the other side of the hill. Over by the river
there's the church and cemetery."

Then, as they neared the spot where the poplars were swaying, there came
into view a beautiful chateau towering grandly above the trees, with its
facade of stone gabled roofs and chimneys standing out magnificently in a
park planted with trees and shrubs which stretched out as far as the
meadows.

Perrine stopped short in amazement, whilst Rosalie continue to step out.
This made them jolt the basket, whereupon Rosalie plumped it down on the
ground and stretched herself.

"Ah, you think that fine, don't you?" said Rosalie, following Perrine's
glance.

"Why, it's beautiful," said Perrine, softly.

"Well, old Monsieur Vulfran lives there all alone. He's got a dozen
servants to wait on him, without counting the gardeners and stablemen who
live in those quarters 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 inside! There's gold everywhere, and velvets,
and such carpets! Them nephews want to live there with him, but he won't
have 'em. He even eats his meals all alone."

They took up the basket and went on again. Soon they saw a general view of
the works. But to Perrine's eyes there seemed only a confusion of
buildings, some old, some new, just a great gray mass with big, tall
chimneys everywhere. Then they came to the first houses of the village,
with apple trees and pear trees growing in the gardens. Here was the
village of which her father had spoken so often.

What struck her most was the number of people she saw. Groups of men, women
and children dressed up in their Sunday clothes stood chatting before the
houses or sat in the low rooms, the 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 drinking
bright colored drinks