our education
but to take a personal interest in you; that is why I give you this
advice."

"Please, Mademoiselle, explain to me what I ought to do," said Perrine;
"I don't understand at all what this advice means, and I am very
nervous."

"Although you have not been very long at Maraucourt," said Mlle.
Belhomme, "you must know that M. Vulfran's illness and the continued
absence of his son is a cause of anxiety to all this part of the
country."

"Yes, I have heard that," answered Perrine.

"What would become of all those employed in the works, seven thousand,
and all those who are dependent on these seven thousand if Monsieur
Vulfran should die and his son not return? Will he leave his fortune and
works to his nephews, of which he has no more confidence in one than the
other, or to one who for twenty years has been his right hand and who,
having managed the works with him is, perhaps more than anyone else, in
a position to keep his hold on them?

"When M. Vulfran took his nephew Theodore into the business everyone
thought that he intended to make him his heir. But later, when Monsieur
Casimir left college and his uncle sent for him, they saw that they had
made a mistake and that M. Vulfran had not decided to leave his business
to these two boys. His only wish was to have his son back for, although
they had been parted for ten years, he still loved him. Now no one knew
whether the son was dead or alive. But there were those who wished that
he was dead so that they themselves could take M. Vulfran's place when
he died.

"Now, my dear child," said the governess, "you understand you live here
in the home of M. Vulfran and you must be very discreet in this matter
and not talk about it to Casimir's mother. She is working all she can
for her son's interest and she will push anyone aside who stands in his
way. Now, if you were on too good terms with her you would be on bad
terms with Theodore's mother, and the other way about. Then, on the
other hand, should you gain the good graces of both of them you would
perhaps have reason to fear one from another direction. That is why I
give you this little advice. Talk as little as possible. And if you are
questioned, be careful to make replies as vague as possible. It is
better sometimes to be looked upon rather as too stupid than too
intelligent. This is so in your case ... the less intelligent you appear,
the more intelligent you will really be."

CHAPTER XXV

MEDDL