Nobody's Girl by Hector Malot Chapter 15
AURELIE'S CHANCE
If Rosalie had not spoken to Perrine of the near opening of the shootingseason for water fowl, Perrine would have stayed on in her cabin unawareof the danger that might come to her. Although this news came as a blowto her, what Rosalie had said about M. Bendit and the translations shemight do for M. Mombleux gave her something else to think about.
Yes, her island was charming, and it would be a great grief for her toleave it. And yet here was an opportunity where she could be useful totwo valued employes at the factory, and this step would lead to othersteps, and it would open doors perhaps through which she could passlater. This was something that she should consider above all else, evenabove the sorrow of being dispossessed of her little kingdom. It was notfor this game--robbing nests, catching fish, picking flowers, listeningto the birds sing--that she had endured all the misery and fatigue ofher long journey. She had an object in view. She must remember what hermother told her to do, and do it.
She had told Rosalie that she would call at Mother Francoise's house onMonday to see if Mombleux had need of her services. Rosalie came tomeet her and said that as no letters had come from England that Monday,there would not be any translations to make that day, but perhaps therewould be something for the next day. This was at the luncheon hour, soPerrine returned to the factory. It had just struck two when Ninepinhopped up to her on his wooden leg and told her that she was wanted atthe offices at once.
"What for?" she asked in amazement.
"What's that to do with me? They just sent word for you to go to theoffice ... go on," he said, roughly.
She hurried off. She could not understand. If it was a matter of helpingMombleux with a translation, why should she have to go to the office,where everyone could see her and know that he had had to ask for herhelp?
She quickly went up the steps, where she saw Talouel standing outsidewaiting for her.
"Are you the girl who speaks English?" he asked. "Now, no lies, 'causeyou speak French without an accent."
"My mother was English and my father was French," replied Perrine, "so Ispeak both languages."
"Good. You are to go to Saint-Pipoy. Monsieur Paindavoine wants you."
She was so surprised at this news that she stood staring at the managerin amazement.
"Well, stupid?" he said.
As though to excuse herself, she said:
"I was taken aback. I'm a stranger here and I don't know whereSaint-Pipoy is."
"You won't be lost; you are to go in the carriage," said the manager."Here, William...."
M. Paindavoine's horse and carriage, which had been standing in theshade, now drew up.
"Here's the girl," said the manager to a young man. "Take her to M.Paindavoine quickly."
Perrine was already down the steps, and was about to take her seatbeside William when he stopped her with a sign of his hand.
"Not here; take the back seat," he said.
There was a narrow seat for one person at the back. She got up into itand they started off at a brisk trot.
When they had left the village behind William, slacking the horse'sspeed, turned round to Perrine.
"You're going to have a chance to please the boss," he said.
"How so?" asked Perrine.
"He's got some English mechanics come over to put a machine together,and they can't understand each other. He's got M. Mombleux there, whosays he can speak English, but if he does it isn't the same English asthese Englishmen speak. They keep on jabbering, but don't seem tounderstand, and the boss is mad. It makes you split your sides to hear'em. At last M. Mombleux couldn't go on any longer, and to calm the bosshe said that he knew of a girl named Aurelie in the factory who spokeEnglish, and the boss made me come off at once for you."
There was a moment's silence; then he turned round again to Perrine.
"If you speak English like M. Mombleux," he said mockingly, "perhapsit'd be better if you didn't go any farther.
"Shall I put you down?" he added with a grin.
"You can go on," said Perrine, quietly.
"Well, I was just thinking for you; that's all," he said.
"Thank you; but I wish to go on, please."
Yet in spite of her apparent coolness, little Perrine was very nervous,because, although she was sure of her English, she did not know whatsort of English the engineer spoke. As William had said mockingly, itwas not the same that M. Mombleux understood. And she fully realizedthat there would be many technical words that she would not be able totranslate. She would not understand, and she would hesitate, and thenprobably M. Paindavoine would be angry with her, the same as he had beenwith M. Mombleux.
Above the tops of the poplars she could already see the great smokingchimneys of the factories of Saint-Pipoy. She knew that spinning andweaving were done here, the same as at Maraucourt, and, besides that, itwas here that they manufactured red rope and string. But whether sheknew that or not, it was nothing that would help her in the task beforeher.
They turned the bend of the road. With a sweeping glance she could takein all the great buildings, and although these works were not so largeas those of Maraucourt, they were nevertheless of considerableimportance.
The carriage passed through the great iron gates and soon stopped beforethe main office.
"Come with me," said William.
He led her into an office where M. Paindavoine was seated talking to themanager of the Saint-Pipoy works.
"Here's the girl, sir," said William, holding his hat in his hand.
"Very well; you can go," said his master.
Without speaking to Perrine, M. Paindavoine made a sign to his managerto come nearer to him. Then he spoke to him in a low voice. The manageralso dropped his voice to answer. But Perrine's hearing was keen, andshe understood that they were speaking of her. She heard the managerreply: "A young girl, about twelve or thirteen, who looks intelligent."
"Come here, my child," said M. Paindavoine, in the same tone that shehad already heard him use to Rosalie, and which was very different fromthat which he used for his employes.
She felt encouraged and went up to him.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Aurelie."
"Where are your father and mother?"
"They are both dead."
"How long have you been in my employ?"
"For three weeks."
"Where do you come from?"
"I have just come from Paris."
"You speak English?"
"My mother was English, and I can speak in conversation, and I understand,but...."
"There are no 'buts'; you know or you do not know."
"I don't know the words used in various trades, because they use words thatI have never heard, and I don't know the meaning of them," said Perrine.
"You see, Benoist," said M. Paindavoine quickly; "what this little girlsays is so; that shows she is not stupid."
"She looks anything but that," answered Benoist.
"Well, perhaps we shall be able to manage somehow," said M. Vulfran. Hegot up, and placing one arm on the manager, he leaned on his cane withthe other.
"Follow us, little girl," he said.
Perrine usually had her eyes about her and noticed everything thathappened, but she took no heed where she was going. As she followed inher grandfather's footsteps, she was plunged in thought. What would bethe result of this interview with the English mechanics?
They came to a big red brick building. Here she saw Mombleux walkingback and forth, evidently in a bad humor, and it seemed to her that hethrew her anything but a friendly look.
They went in and were taken up to the first floor. Here in a big hallstood a number of wooden crates bearing a firm's name, "Morton andPratt, Manchester." On one of the crates the Englishmen were sitting,waiting. Perrine noticed that from their dress they had every appearanceof being gentlemen, and she hoped that she would be able better tounderstand them than if they had been rough workingmen. When M. Vulf ranentered they rose.
"Tell them that you can speak English and that they can explain to you,"said M. Vulfran.
She did what she was told, and at the first words she had the satisfactionof seeing the Englishmen's faces brighten. It is true she only spoke a fewwords to begin the conversation, but the pleasant smile they gave herbanished all her nervousness.
"They understand her perfectly," said the manager.
"Well, then, ask them," said M. Vulfran, "why they have come a weekearlier than the date arranged for their coming, because it so happensthat the engineer who was to direct them in their work, and who speaksEnglish, is away for a few days."
Perrine translated the phrase accurately, and one of the men answered atonce.
"They say," she said, "that they have been to Cambrai and put up somemachinery, and they got through with their work quicker than they thoughtthey would, so they came here direct instead of going back to England andreturning again."
"Whose machinery were they working on at Cambrai?" asked M. Vulfran.
"It was for the M. M. and E. Aveline and Company."
"What were the machines?"
The question was put and the reply was given in English, but Perrinehesitated.
"Why do you hesitate?" asked M. Vulfran, impatiently.
"Because it's a word used in the business that I don't know," answeredPerrine, timidly.
"Say the word in English."
"Hydraulic mangle."
"That's all right," said M. Vulfran. He repeated the word in English,but with quite a different accent from the English mechanics, whichexplains why he had not understood them when they had spoken the words.
"You see that Aveline and Company are ahead of us," he said, turning tohis manager. "We have no time to lose. I am going to cable to Fabry toreturn at once; but while waiting we must persuade these young men toget to work. Ask them what they are standing there for, little girl."
She translated the question, and the one who seemed to be the chief gaveher a long answer.
"Well?" asked M. Vulfran.
"They are saying some things that are very difficult for me to understand."
"However, try and explain to me."
"They say that the floor is not strong enough to hold their machine,which weighs...."
She stopped to question the workmen in English, who told her the weight.
"Ah, that is it, is it?" said M. Vulfran.
"And when the machine is started going its weight will break theflooring," she continued, turning to M. Vulfran.
"The beams are sixty centimetres in width."
She told the men what M. Vulfran said, listened to their reply, thencontinued:
"They say that they have examined the flooring, and that it is not safefor this machine. They want a thorough test made and strong supportsplaced under the floor."
"The supports can be placed there at once, and when Fabry returns athorough examination will be made. Tell them that. Let them get to workwithout losing a moment. They can have all the workmen they need ...carpenters and masons, millwrights. They have only to tell you. You haveto be at their service, and then you tell Monsieur Benoist what theyrequire."
She translated these instructions to the men, who appeared satisfiedwhen she told them that she was to stay and interpret for them.
"You will stay here," continued M. Vulfran. "Your food will be given toyou and also a lodging at the inn. You will have nothing to pay there.And if we are pleased with you, you will receive something extra whenMonsieur Fabry returns."