Everybody came to their doors as Rosalie and Perrine passed. Rosalie's handkerchief was covered with blood. Most of the people were merely curious, others felt sorry, others were angry, knowing that what had happened to this girl that day might happen the next day, at any moment, to their fathers, husbands, and children. Was not everyone in Maraucourt employed at the factory?
"You come on in with me," said Rosalie, when they reached the house; "then perhaps Aunt Zenobie won't say much."
But Perrine's presence had no effect upon the terrible aunt. Seeing Rosalie arrive at such an unusual hour, and noticing that her hand was wrapped up, she cried out shrilly: "Now, then, you've gone and hurt yourself, you lazy bones. I bet you did it on purpose."
"Oh, I'm goin' to be paid," retorted Rosalie, scornfully.
"Monsieur Vulfran told me that I should."
But this information did not appease Aunt Zenobie. She continued to scold until Mother Françoise, leaving her store, came to see what was the matter. But the old grandmother, instead of showing anger, put her arms about Rosalie and said: "Oh, my dearie; you've gone and got hurt."
"Just a little, grandmother ... it's my fingers ... but it ain't much."
"Monsieur Vulfran is going to send him here."
Perrine was about to follow them into the house when Aunt Zenobie turned upon her and stopped her.
"What are you coming for?" she asked. "Do you think we need you to look after her?"
"Thank you for coming," called out Rosalie to Perrine.
Perrine had nothing to do but to return to the factory, which she did. But just as she reached the gates a whistle announced that it was closing time.
A dozen times during the day she had asked herself how she could possibly sleep in that room where she had been almost suffocated. She was sure that she would not be able to sleep any better that night, or the next, or the next.
And if she could not find rest after a hard day's work, whatever would happen to her?
In her little mind she weighed all the consequences of this terrible question. If she had not the strength to do her work she would be sent away from the factory, and that would be the end of all her hopes. She would be ill and there would be no one to help her, and she would have to lie down at the foot of a tree and die.