woman continued to insist.

They argued for a long time, La Noyelle repeating the words, "a little
glass."

"I want to go to sleep," said one of the girls in bed. "How long is this
going to keep up? And we got to be up early tomorrow."

"Oh, Lord! and it's like this every Sunday," sighed another.

And little Perrine had thought that if she only had a roof over her head
she would be able to sleep in peace! The open fields, with their dark
shadows and the chances of bad weather, was far better than this crowded
room, reeking with odors that were almost suffocating her. She wondered
if she would be able to pass the night in this dreadful room.

The argument was still going on at the foot of the stairs. La Noyelle's
voice could be heard repeating "a little glass."

"I'm goin' to help Laide," said one, "or this'll last till tomorrow."
The woman got up and went down the narrow stairs. Then came the sound of
angry voices, heavy footsteps and blows. The people on the ground floor
came out to see what was the matter, and finally everyone in the house
was awake.

At last La Noyelle was dragged into the room, crying out in despair.

"What have I done to you that you should be so unkind to me?"

Ignoring her complaints, they undressed her and put her into bed, but
even then she did not sleep, but continued to moan and cry.

"What have I done to you girls that you should treat me so badly. I'm
very unhappy, and I'm thirsty."

She continued to complain until everyone was so exasperated that they
one and all shouted out in anger.

However, she went on all the same. She carried on a conversation with an
imaginary person till the occupants of the room were driven to distraction.
Now and again her voice dropped as though she were going off to sleep, then
suddenly she cried out in a shriller voice, and those who had dropped off
into a slumber awoke with a start and frightened her badly, but despite
their anger she would not stop.

Perrine wondered if it really was to be like that every Sunday. How
could they put up with her? Was there no place in Maraucourt where one
could sleep peacefully?

It was not alone the noise that disturbed her, but the air was now so
stifling that she could scarcely breathe.

At last La Noyelle was quiet, or rather it was only a prolonged snore
that came from her lips.

But although all was silent Perrine could not sleep. She was oppressed.
It seemed as though a hammer was beating on her foreh