Upon arriving at the factory the crowd went into the various workshops under the watchful eye of a tall thin man who stood near the iron gates, his hand in the pocket of his coat, his straw hat stuck on the back of his head. His sharp eyes scanned everyone who passed. "That's Skinny," informed Rosalie in a whisper. Perrine did not need to be told this. She seemed to know at once that this was the foreman Talouel. "Do I come in with you?" asked Perrine. "Sure!" This was a decisive moment for little Perrine, but she controlled her nervousness and drew herself up to her full height. Why should they not take her if they took everyone? Rosalie drew Perrine out of the crowd, then went up to Talouel. "Monsieur," she said, "here's a friend of mine who wants a job." Talouel glanced sharply at the friend. "In a moment ... we'll see," he replied curtly. Rosalie, who knew what to do, signed to Perrine to stand aside and wait. At this moment there was a slight commotion at the gates, and the crowd drew aside respectfully to allow Monsieur Paindavoine's carriage to pass. The same young man who had driven him the evening before was now driving. Although everyone knew that their chief, Vulfran Paindavoine, was blind, all the men took off their hats as he passed and the women curtseyed. "You see he's not the last one to come," said Rosalie, as the phaeton passed through the gates, "but his nephews likely will be late." The clock struck, then a few late comers came running up. A young man came hurrying along, arranging his tie as he ran. "Good morning, Talouel," he said; "is uncle here yet?" "Yes, Monsieur Theodore," said the foreman, "he got here a good five minutes ago." "Oh!" "You're not the last, though. Monsieur Casimir is late also. I can see him coming now." As Theodore went towards the offices his cousin Casimir came up hurriedly. The two cousins were not at all alike, either in their looks or ways. Casimir gave the foreman a short nod, but did not say a word. "What can your friend do?" asked Talouel, turning to Rosalie, his hands still in his pockets. Perrine herself replied to this question. "I have not worked in a factory before," she said in a voice that she tried to control. Talouel gave her a sharp look, then turned again to Rosalie. "Tell Oneux to put her with the trucks. Now be off. Hurry up!" Thus dismissed, Rosalie hurried Perrine away. "What are the trucks?" asked little Perrine as she followed her friend through the big courtyard. She wondered, poor child, if she had the strength and the intelligence to do what was required of her. "Oh, it's easy enough," replied Rosalie, lightly. "Don't be afraid; you've only got to load the trucks." "Oh!..." "And when it's full," continued Rosalie, "you push it along to the place where they empty it. You give a good shove to begin with, then it'll go all alone."