Nobody's Girl by Hector Malot Chapter 29
THE ANGEL OF REFORM
As the days passed M. Vulfran became very weak. At last he was confinedto his room with a serious attack of bronchitis, and the entiremanagement of the works was given over to Talouel, who was triumphant.
When he recovered he was in such a state of apathy that it was alarming.They could not rouse him; nothing seemed to interest him, not even hisbusiness. Previously they had feared the effect a shock would have onhis system, but now the doctors desired it, for it seemed that only agreat shock could drag him out of this terrible condition. What couldthey do?
After a time he returned to his business, but he scarcely took accountof what Talouel had done during his absence. His manager, however, hadbeen too clever and shrewd to take any steps that his employer would nothave taken himself.
Every day Perrine took him to his various factories, but the drives weremade in silence now. Frequently he did not reply to the remarks she madefrom time to time, and when he reached the works he scarcely listened towhat his men had to say.
"Do what you think best," he said always. "Arrange the matter withTalouel."
How long would this apathy last?
One afternoon, when old Coco was bringing them back to Maraucourt, theyheard a bell ringing.
"Stop," he said; "I think that's the fire alarm."
Perrine stopped the horse.
"Yes, it's a fire," he said, listening. "Do you see anything?"
"I can see a lot of black smoke over by the poplars on the left,"replied Perrine.
"On the left? That is the way to the factory."
"Yes; shall I drive that way?" asked Perrine.
"Yes," replied M. Vulfran, indifferently.
It was not until they reached the village that they knew where the firewas.
"Don't hurry, M. Vulfran," called out a peasant; "the fire ain't in yourhouse. It's La Tiburce's house that's on fire."
La Tiburce was a drunken creature who minded little babies who were tooyoung to be taken to the creche. She lived in a miserable tumble-downhouse near the schools.
"Let us go there," said M. Vulfran.
They had only to follow the crowd, for the people, when they saw theflames and smoke rising, were running excitedly to the spot where thefire was. Before reaching the scene Perrine had to stop several timesfor fear of running someone down. Nothing in the world would have madethe people get out of their way. Finally M. Vulfran got out of thecarriage and, guided by Perrine, walked through the crowd. As theyneared the entrance to the house, Fabry, wearing a helmet, for he waschief of the firemen, came up to them.
"We've got it under control," he said, "but the house is entirely burnt,and what's worse, several children, five or six, perhaps, are lost. Oneis buried beneath, two have been suffocated, and we don't know where theother three are."
"How did it happen?" asked M. Vulfran.
"La Tiburce was asleep, drunk. She is still in that condition. Thebiggest of the children were playing with the matches. When the firebegan to flare up some of the children got out, and La Tiburce woke up.She is so drunk she got out herself but left the little ones in thecradle."
The sound of cries and loud talking could be heard in the yard. M.Vulfran wanted to go in.
"Don't go in there, sir," said Fabry. "The mothers whose two childrenwere suffocated are carrying on pretty badly."
"Who are they?"
"Two women who work in your factory."
"I must speak to them."
Leaning on Perrine's shoulder, he told her to guide him. Preceded byFabry, who made way for them, they went into the yard where the firemenwere turning the hose on the house as the flames burst forth in acrackling sound.
In a far-off corner several women stood round the two mothers who werecrying. Fabry brushed aside the group. M. Vulfran went up to thebereaved parents, who sat with their dead children on their knees. Thenone of the women, who thought perhaps that a supreme help had come,looked up with a gleam of hope in her eyes. When she recognized M.Vulfran she raised her arm to him threateningly.
"Ah," she cried, "come and see for yourself what they do to our babieswhile we are sweating and killing ourselves for you. Can you give usback their lives? Oh, my little boy."
She burst into sobs as she bent over her child.
M. Vulfran hesitated for a moment; then he turned to Fabry and said:
"You are right; let us go."
They returned to the offices. After a time Talouel came to tell hisemployer that out of the six children that they had thought were dead,three had been found in the homes of neighbors, where they had beencarried when the fire first broke out. The burial for the other threetiny victims was to take place the next day.
When Talouel had gone, Perrine, who had been very thoughtful, decided tospeak to M. Vulfran.
"Are you not going to the burial service of these little babies?" sheasked. Her trembling voice betrayed her emotion.
"Why should I go?" asked M. Vulfran.
"Because that would be the most dignified answer you could give to whatthat poor woman said."
"Did my work people come to the burial service of my son?" asked M.Vulfran, coldly.
"They did not share your sorrow," said Perrine gravely, "but if youshare theirs now they will be touched."
"You don't know how ungrateful the workingman is."
"Ungrateful! For what? The money they receive? They consider that theyhave a right to the money they earn. It is theirs. Would they showingratitude if an interest was taken in them, if a little friendly helpwas given them? Perhaps it would not be the same, do you think so?Friendship creates friendship. One often loves when one knows one isloved, and it seems to me that when we are friendly to others, we makefriends ourselves. It means so much to lighten the burdens of the poor,but how much more is it to lighten their sorrows ... by helping to sharethem."
It seemed to her that she had still so much to say on this subject, butM. Vulfran did not reply. He did not even appear to be listening to her,and she was afraid to say more. Later she might make another attempt.
As they left the office M. Vulfran turned to Talouel, who was standingon the steps, and said:
"Tell the priest to arrange a suitable burial for the three children. Itwill be at my expense and I shall be there."
Talouel jumped.
"And let everyone know," continued M. Vulfran, "that all who wish to goto the church tomorrow, can take the time off. This fire is a greatmisfortune."
"We are not responsible for it," said Talouel.
"Not directly ... no," said M. Vulfran.
Perrine had another surprise the next morning. After the mail had beenopened and the replies dictated, M. Vulfran detained Fabry and said: "Iwant you to start for Rouen. I think you can spare the time. I haveheard that they have built a model creche there. It is not built by thetown, but someone has had it built to the memory of one whom they havelost. I want you to see how this is made. Study it in all itsdetails--the construction, heating and ventilation and the expense ofkeeping it up. In three months we must have a creche at the entrance ofall my factories. I don't want such a calamity as that which occurredyesterday to take place again. I rely upon you and the responsibility isupon you now."
That evening Perrine told the great news to her governess, who wasdelighted. While they were talking about it, M. Vulfran came into theroom.
"Mademoiselle," he said, "I have come to ask a favor of you in the nameof all the village. It is a big favor. It may mean a great sacrifice onyour part. This is it."
In a few words he outlined the request he had to make. It was thatmademoiselle should send in her resignation at the schools and takecharge of the five creches which he was going to build. He knew of noone who was capable of taking on their shoulders such a big burden. Hewould donate a creche to each village and endow it with sufficientcapital to keep up its maintenance.
Although Mlle. Belhomme loved to teach, and it would be indeed asacrifice for her to give up her school, she felt, after she had talkedwith the blind man, that it was here where her duty lay. It was indeed agreat work that she was called upon to do, and she would enter upon hertask with all the enthusiasm of which her big heart was capable.
"This is a great thing you are doing, Monsieur Vulfran," she said, withtears in her eyes, "and I will do all I can to make this work asuccess."
"It is your pupil one must thank for it," said the blind man, "not I.Her words and suggestions have awakened something in my heart. I havestepped out on a new road. I am only at the first steps. It is nothingcompared with what I intend to do."
"Oh, please," said Perrine, her eyes bright with delight and pride, "ifyou still want to do something...."
"What is it?" he asked with a smile.
"I want to take you somewhere ... tonight."
"What do you mean? Where do you want to take me?" asked the blind man,mystified.
"To a place where your presence only for a few moments will bring aboutextraordinary results," said Perrine.
"Well, can't you tell me where this mysterious place is?" asked M.Vulfran.
"But if I tell you, your visit will not have the same effect. It will bea failure. It will be a fine evening and warm, and I am sure that youwill not take cold. Please say you will go!"
"I think one could have confidence in her," said Mademoiselle Belhomme,"although her request seems a little strange and childish."
"Well," said M. Vulfran, indulgently, "I'll do as you wish, Aurelie. Nowat what hour are we to start on this adventure?"
"The later it is the better it will be," said Perrine.
During the evening he spoke several times of the outing they were tohave, but Perrine would not explain.
"Do you know, little girl, you have aroused my curiosity?" he said atlast.
"I am glad you are interested," she said gravely. "There is so much thatcan be done in the future. Do not look back to the past any more."
"The future is empty for me," said the blind man bitterly.
"Oh, no; it is not," said Perrine, lifting her lovely face to his. Hereyes were shining with a beautiful light. "It will not be empty if youthink of others. When one is a child, and not very happy, one oftenthinks that if a wonderful fairy came to them, of what beautiful thingsthey would ask. But if one is the fairy, or rather the magician oneself,and can do all the wonderful things alone, wouldn't it be splendid touse one's power?..."
The evening passed. Several times the blind man asked if it were nottime to start, but Perrine delayed as long as possible.
At last she said that she thought they could start. The night was warm,no breeze, no mists. The atmosphere was a trifle heavy and the sky dark.
When they reached the village it was all quiet. All seemed to sleep. Nota light shone from the windows.
The dark night made no difference to the blind man. As they walked alongthe road from the chateau he knew exactly where he was.
"We must be nearing Francoise's house," he said, after they had walked alittle distance.
"That is just where we are going," said Perrine. "We are there now. Letme take your hand and guide you, and please don't speak. We have somestairs to go up, but they are quite easy and straight. When we get tothe top of these stairs I shall open a door and we shall go into a roomfor just one moment."
"What do you want me to see ... when I can't see anything?" he said.
"There will be no need for you to see," replied Perrine.
"Then why come?"
"I want you here," said Perrine earnestly. "Here are the stairs. Nowstep up, please."
They climbed up the stairs and Perrine opened a door and gently drew M.Vulfran inside a room and closed the door again.
They stood in a suffocating, evil-smelling room.
"Who is there?" asked a weary voice.
Pressing his hand, Perrine warned M. Vulfran not to speak.
The same voice spoke:
"Get into bed, La Noyelle. How late you are."
This time M. Vulfran clasped Perrine's hand in a sign for them to leavethe place.
She opened the door and they went down, while a murmur of voicesaccompanied them. When they reached the street M. Vulfran spoke: "Youwanted me to know what that room was the first night when you sleptthere?"
"I wanted you to know what kind of a place all the women who work foryou have to sleep in. They are all alike in Maraucourt and the othervillages. You have stood in one of these dreadful rooms; all the othersare like it. Think of your women and children, your factory hands, whoare breathing that poisoned air. They are slowly dying. They are almostall weak and sick."
M. Vulfran was silent. He did not speak again, neither did Perrine. Whenthey entered the hall he bade her good night, and guided by Bastien, hewent to his own room.