sleep. Even when her eyelids grew
too heavy to keep open her excitement was so great that every now and
then she would start up in bed. She tried to force herself to be calm.
She told herself that things would have to take their course, without
her wondering all the time if she were going to be happy or not. That
was the only sensible thing to do. Things seemed to be taking such a
favorable turn she must wait. But the best arguments when addressed to
oneself have never made anyone go to sleep, and the better the argument
the more likely one is to keep awake.

The next morning, when the factory whistle blew, she went to the door of
the room occupied by the two machinists and knocked, and told them it
was time to get up.

They paid no heed to the whistle, however, and it was not until they had
taken a bath and made an elaborate _toilette_, something unknown to the
villagers in those parts, and partaken of a hearty breakfast, consisting
of a thick, juicy steak, plenty of buttered toast and several cups of
tea, that they showed any readiness to get to their work.

Perrine, who had discreetly waited for them outside, wondered if they
would ever be ready. When at last they came out, and she tripped behind
them to the factory, her one thought was that her grandfather would
surely be there ahead of them.

However, it was not until the afternoon that M. Vulfran arrived. He was
accompanied by his youngest nephew, Casimir.

The youth looked disdainfully at the work the machinists had done, which
in truth was merely in preparation.

"These fellows won't do much before Fabry returns," he said. "That's not
surprising considering the supervision you have given them, uncle."

He said this jeeringly, but instead of taking his words lightly, his
uncle reprimanded him severely: "If you had been able to attend to this
matter, I should not have been forced to have called in this little
girl, who until now has only pushed trucks."

Perrine saw Casimir bite his lip in anger, but he controlled himself and
said lightly: "If I had foreseen that I should have to give up a
government position for a commercial one, I should certainly have
learned English in preference to German."

"It is never too late to learn," replied his uncle in a tone that
brooked no further parley.

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 ev