en 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. How severe M. Vulfran was with his nephew,
but what a disagreeable, horrid youth was that nephew! If they had any
affection for one another it certainly was not apparent. Why was it? Why
wasn't this nephew kind to his old uncle, who was blind and broken down
with sorrow? And why was the old man so hard with a nephew who was
taking the place of his own son?

While she was pondering these questions M. Vulfran returned, this time
being led in by the manager, who, having placed him in a seat, began to
explain to him the work that the machinists were now engaged upon.

Some minutes later she heard M. Benoist calling: "Aurelie! Aurelie!"

She did not move, for she had forgotten that Aurelie was the name that
she had given to herself.

The third time he called: "Aurelie!"

She jumped up with a start as she realized that that was the name by
which they knew her. She hurried over to them.

"Are you deaf?" demanded Monsieur Benoist.

"No, sir; I was listening to the machinists."

"You can leave me now," said M. Vulfran to his manager.

When the manager had gone he turned to Perrine, who had remained
standing before him.

"Can you read, my child?"

"Yes, sir."

"English as well as French?"

"Yes, both the same."

"But while reading English can you turn it into French?"

"When the phrases are not too difficult; yes, sir."

"The daily news from the papers, do you think you could do that?"

"I have never tried that, because if I read an English paper there is no
need for me to translate it for myself, because I understand what it
says."

"Well, we will try. Tell the machinists that when they want you they can
call you, and then come and read from an English paper some articles
that I wish to have read to me in French. Go and tell the men and then
come back and sit down here beside me."

When she had done what she was told, she sat down beside M. Vulfran and
took the newspaper that he handed her, "The Dundee News."

"What shall I read?" she asked as she unfolded it.

"Look for the commercial column."

The long black and white columns bewildered poor little Perrine. She was
so nervous and her hands trembled so she wondered if she would ever be
able to accomplish what she was asked to do. She gazed from the top of
one page to the bottom of another, and still coul