Perhaps that was true, but how it hurt Perrine to hear this from the lips of her governess, of whom she was so fond. If anyone else had said so she might not have felt it so deeply. Yes, undoubtedly it was too true. They had been walking as they talked, and had now reached the schools where Mlle. Belhomme lived. "Come in and we'll have luncheon together," she said. She was thinking that her pupil would not be allowed to take her accustomed place at the family table. "Oh, thank you," said Perrine; "but M. Vulfran might need me." "Well, in that case you had better go back," said Mlle. Belhomme. When she reached the chateau she saw that M. Vulfran had no need of her, that he was not even thinking of her. Bastien, whom she met on the stairs, told her that when he came back from the church he had gone to his own room and locked himself in, forbidding anyone to enter. "He won't even sit down on a day like this with his family," said Bastien, "and they are all going after luncheon. I don't think he even wants to say goodbye to them. Lord help us! What will become of us? Oh, poor master!" "What can I do?" asked Perrine. "You can do a great deal. The master believes in you, and he's mighty fond of you." "Mighty fond of me?" echoed Perrine. "Yes, and it's I as says it," said the butler. "He likes you a whole lot." As Bastien had said, all the family left after luncheon. Perrine stayed in her room, but M. Vulfran did not send for her. Just before she went to bed, Bastien came to tell her that his master wished her to accompany him the next morning at the usual hour. "He wants to get back to work, but will he be able?" said the old butler. "It will be better for him if he can. Work means life for him." The next day at the usual hour Perrine was waiting for M. Vulfran. With bent back he came forward, guided by Bastien. The butler made a sign to her that his master had passed a bad night. "Is Aurelie there?" asked the blind man in a changed voice, a voice low and weak, like that of a sick child. Perrine went forward quickly. "I am here, M. Vulfran," she said. "Let us get into the carriage, Aurelie," he said. As soon as he had taken his place beside Perrine his head drooped on his chest. He said not a word. At the foot of the office steps Talouel was there ready to receive him and help him to alight. "I suppose you felt strong enough to come?" he said, in a sympathetic voice which contrasted with the flash in his eyes. "I did not feel at all strong, but I came because I thought that I ought to come," said his employer. "That is what I meant ... I...." M. Vulfran stopped him and told Perrine to guide him to his office.