etty things, but of
course dresses on this order would not be fitting for her now. The
simplest that she could find would be better.

Who would have thought that the unexpected present of new clothes could
have filled her with so much anxiety and embarrassment. She knew that
she ought to be filled with joy and yet here she was greatly worried and
hesitating.

Just near the church she found Mme. Lachaise's shop. It was by far the best
shop in Maraucourt. In the window there was a fine display of materials,
ribbons, lingerie, hats, jewels, perfumes, which aroused the envy and
tempted the greed of all the frivolous girls throughout the surrounding
villages. It was here where they spent their small earnings, the same as
their fathers and husbands spent theirs at the taverns.

When Perrine saw this display of finery she was still more perplexed and
embarrassed. She entered the shop and stood in the middle of the floor,
for neither the mistress of the establishment nor the milliners who were
working behind the counter seemed to think that the ragged little girl
required any attention. Finally Perrine decided to hold out the envelope
containing the order that she held in her hand.

"What is it you want, little girl?" demanded Madame Lachaise.

As she still held out the envelope the mistress of the store caught
sight of the words Maraucourt Factories, Vulfran Paindavoine in one of
the corners. The expression of her face changed at once, her smile was
very pleasant now.

"What do you wish, Mademoiselle?" she asked, leaving her desk and drawing
forward a chair for Perrine. Perrine told her that she wanted a dress,
some underlinen, a pair of shoes and a hat.

"We can supply you with all those," said Madame Lachaise, "and with
goods of the very best quality. Would you like to commence with the
dress? Yes. Very well then, I will show you some materials."

But it was not materials that Perrine wished to see; she wanted a
ready-made dress. Something that she could put on at once, or at least
something that would be ready for her to wear the next day when she went
out with Monsieur Paindavoine.

"Ah, you are going out with Monsieur Vulfran?" said Madame Lachaise
quickly; her curiosity was strung to its highest pitch at this
statement. She wondered what the all powerful master of Maraucourt could
have to do with this ragged little girl and she did not hesitate to ask.

But instead of replying to her question Perrine continued