ere working
for him--masons, carpenters, smiths, mechanics. Clearly and without
repetition, she explained to each one what orders were given to him;
then she interpreted for the chief machinist the questions or objections
which the French workmen desired to address to him.

Perrine's grandfather had drawn near. The voices stopped as the tap of
his cane announced his approach, but he made a sign for them to continue
the same as though he were not there.

And while Perrine, obeying him, went on talking with the men, he said
quietly to the manager, though not low enough but that Perrine heard:

"Do you know, that little girl would make a fine engineer!"

"Yes," said the manager; "it's astonishing how decided and confident she
is with the men."

"Yes, and she can do something else. Yesterday she translated the
'Dundee News' more intelligently than Bendit. And it was the first time
that she had read trade journal stuff."

"Does anyone know who her parents were?" asked the manager.

"Perhaps Talouel does; I do not," said Vulfran.

"She is in a very miserable and pitiful condition," said the manager.

"I gave her five francs for her food and lodging."

"I am speaking of her clothes. Her waist is worn to threads; I have never
seen such a skirt on anybody but a beggar, and she certainly must have made
the shoes she is wearing herself."

"And her face, what is she like, Benoist?"

"Very intelligent and very pretty."

"Hard looking or any signs of vice?"

"No; quite the contrary. She has a very frank, honest look. She has
great eyes that look as though they could pierce a wall, and yet at the
same time they have a soft, trusting look."

"Where in the world does she come from?"

"Not from these parts, that's a sure thing."

"She told me that her mother was English."

"And yet she does not look English. She seems to belong to quite another
race, but she is very pretty; even with the old rags that she is wearing
the girl seems to have a strange sort of beauty. She must have a strong
character or some power, or why is it that these workmen pay such attention
to such a poor little ragged thing?"

And as Benoist never missed a chance to flatter his employer, he added:
"Undoubtedly without having even seen her you have guessed all that I
have told you."

"Her accent struck me as being very cultured," replied Monsieur Vulfran.

Although Perrine had not heard all that the two men had said, she had
caught a few wor