“And as the wives of soldiers must do,” which remark showed Lucie that Odette was approved.
It was the very next day that Paulette came home with a long face. She put down her basket with a heavy sigh, and paid no attention to Pom Pom’s joyous greetings.
“What is it, Paulette?” asked Lucie anxiously. “Are you ill?”
“In mind; not body.”
“But why? What has happened? Don’t tell me, Paulette, that there is some new misfortune.”
“It is a misfortune that I am deprived of the means of earning a fair living. Madame Lemercier is leaving the city to-day and Madame Gouraud goes next week. They fear to remain, and are going to the south where they have friends.”
“Oh, Paulette, what are we to do? I did not expect that I should be hearing such news as this.”
“Nor did I expect, when I spoke of those old ones and the ouvroir which is helping them, that Paulette Ribot might have to accept charity from the hands of strangers. But she will not, no, she will not, if there is work for her in this city. To-morrow begins the search for it.”
“Those two for whom you have been working, Madame Lemercier and Madame Gouraud, did they know of no one who would like a femme de ménage?”
“Hélas! they did not. I asked, of course, but what would you when they were all absorbed in their preparations for leaving? No, what comes to one must be first sought for.”