een. She knew she was loved and loved for herself, and this is what
gave the deep look of happiness to her eyes.

And the village! No one would have recognized it now. There were new
buildings, pretty cottages, and a hospital commanding a view of the
surrounding country. Near the factories were two handsome red brick
buildings. These were the creches where the little children, whose
mothers were working in the factories, were kept. All the little
children had their meals there, and many of them slept there. It was a
home for them.

M. Vulfran had bought up all the old houses, the tumble-down hovels and
huts, and had built new cottages in their places. There was a large
restaurant built where the men and women could get a dinner for eleven
cents, the meal consisting of a soup, stew or roast, bread and cider.

Every little cottage, for which the tenant paid one hundred francs a
year, had its own tiny garden in which to grow vegetables for the
family.

In the road leading to the chateau there was now a fine recreation
ground, which was greatly patronized after the factories had closed.
There were merry-go-rounds, swings, bowling alleys and a stand for the
musicians who played every Saturday and Sunday, and of course on every
holiday. This public park of amusement was used by the people of all
five villages. Monsieur Vulfran had thought it better to have one place
of reunion and recreation. If his people all met together to enjoy their
leisure hours, it would establish good relations and a bond of
friendship between them. At the end of the grounds there was a fine
library with a reading and writing room.

M. Vulfran's relations thought that he had gone mad. Did he intend to
ruin himself? That is to say, ruin them? Some steps ought to be taken to
prevent him from spending his fortune in this manner. His fondness for
that girl was a proof that he was losing his mind. That girl did not
know what she was doing! All their animosity was centered on her. What
did it matter to her that his fortune was being thrown away? But if
Perrine had all the relations against her, she knew that she had M.
Vulfran's friendship, and the family doctor, Doctor Ruchon, Mlle.
Belhomme and Fabry all adored her. Since the doctor had seen that it
was the "little girl" who had been the means of his patient exerting
this wonderful moral and intellectual energy, his attitude to her
expressed the greatest respect and affection. In the doctor's eyes,