He said this jeeringly, but instead of taking his words lightly, his uncle reprimanded him severely: "If you had been able to attend to this matter, I should not have been forced to have called in this little girl, who until now has only pushed trucks."
Perrine saw Casimir bite his lip in anger, but he controlled himself and said lightly: "If I had foreseen that I should have to give up a government position for a commercial one, I should certainly have learned English in preference to German."
"It is never too late to learn," replied his uncle in a tone that brooked no further parley.
The quick words on both sides had been spoken in evident displeasure.
Perrine had made herself as small as possible. She had not dared move, but Casimir did not even turn his eyes in her direction, and almost at once he went out, giving his arm to his uncle. Then she was able to give free rein to her thoughts. How severe M. Vulfran was with his nephew, but what a disagreeable, horrid youth was that nephew! If they had any affection for one another it certainly was not apparent. Why was it? Why wasn't this nephew kind to his old uncle, who was blind and broken down with sorrow? And why was the old man so hard with a nephew who was taking the place of his own son?
While she was pondering these questions M. Vulfran returned, this time being led in by the manager, who, having placed him in a seat, began to explain to him the work that the machinists were now engaged upon.
Some minutes later she heard M. Benoist calling: "Aurelie! Aurelie!"
She did not move, for she had forgotten that Aurelie was the name that she had given to herself.
She jumped up with a start as she realized that that was the name by which they knew her. She hurried over to them.
"Are you deaf?" demanded Monsieur Benoist.
"No, sir; I was listening to the machinists."
"You can leave me now," said M. Vulfran to his manager.
When the manager had gone he turned to Perrine, who had remained standing before him.
"But while reading English can you turn it into French?"
"When the phrases are not too difficult; yes, sir."
"The daily news from the papers, do you think you could do that?"
"I have never tried that, because if I read an English paper there is no need for me to translate it for myself, because I understand what it says."