, at the same
time, his factories were calling to his employes to be ready for the
day's work.

Fearing she might be late she ran as far as the village. There she found
all the doors of the houses open. On the thresholds the men were eating
their soups or leaning against the walls; others were in the cabarets
drinking wine; others were washing at the pump in the yard. No one
seemed to be going to work, so evidently it was not time yet, so Perrine
thought that there was no occasion for her to hurry.

But before long a louder whistle was blown, and then there was a general
movement everywhere; from houses, yards and taverns came a dense crowd,
filling the street. Men, women and children went towards the factories,
some smoking their pipes, others munching a crust of bread, the greater
number chattering loudly. In one of the groups Perrine caught sight of
Rosalie in company with La Noyelle. She joined them.

"Why, where have you been?" asked Rosalie in surprise.

"I got up early so as to take a walk," Perrine replied.

"You did? I went to look for you."

"Oh, thank you; but never do that, for I get up very early," said
Perrine.

Upon arriving at the factory the crowd went into the various workshops
under the watchful eye of a tall thin man who stood near the iron gates,
his hand in the pocket of his coat, his straw hat stuck on the back of
his head. His sharp eyes scanned everyone who passed.

"That's Skinny," informed Rosalie in a whisper.

Perrine did not need to be told this. She seemed to know at once that
this was the foreman Talouel.

"Do I come in with you?" asked Perrine.

"Sure!"

This was a decisive moment for little Perrine, but she controlled her
nervousness and drew herself up to her full height. Why should they not
take her if they took everyone?

Rosalie drew Perrine out of the crowd, then went up to Talouel.

"Monsieur," she said, "here's a friend of mine who wants a job."

Talouel glanced sharply at the friend.

"In a moment ... we'll see," he replied curtly.

Rosalie, who knew what to do, signed to Perrine to stand aside and wait. At
this moment there was a slight commotion at the gates, and the crowd drew
aside respectfully to allow Monsieur Paindavoine's carriage to pass. The
same young man who had driven him the evening before was now driving.
Although everyone knew that their chief, Vulfran Paindavoine, was blind,
all the men took off their hats as he passed and the women curtseye