“Not they. They have hearts of chickens, rabbits, those two.”
Nevertheless the news of the victory of the Marne did encourage the good woman and she started out the next morning declaring that good luck was with them and that she would come back with work to do. It was very late when she did return, weary and with downcast countenance. She shook her head when Lucie asked what success. “They are so many, these refugees,” she said, “and all must be fed, must have employment. In that St. Sulpice it is like a village, and one meets groups of them on the street with a look as of those lost. So many, so many, and we are also refugees. One more day of this and I go to the country. I care not where. I can work in the fields.”
But the next day she came home with better reports. She had found work, but it would keep her all day, and what would Lucie do?
“I shall have Odette and we can manage,” declared Lucie sturdily. “She can teach me how to cook and I can then have the meal ready when you come.”
“Tst! Tst!” cried Paulette. “Two children instead of one to set the house on fire.”
“But Odette, she is very clever, as clever as a woman. I can tell that. I wish you could see what she has been doing to-day. Wait, I will ask her to show you.” She ran off to bring in the little neighbor, who came, work in hand. “Look at this,” cried Lucie, taking it from her.
Paulette received into her hand a white satin shoe. She looked at it contemptuously. “Is mademoiselle then attending a ball?” she asked sarcastically.
Odette handed her the mate to the shoe; this she was covering neatly with black cloth. “I needed shoes,” she said. “There was but this pair at the ouvroir, but Mademoiselle said I could have them. I think she too wondered what I would do with them. I shall wear them and show her. She will be surprised, that young American lady. The cloth I begged from the bag of the old lady who is friend of my aunt.”
“Is she not clever?” said Lucie.
“She will do,” responded Paulette, but after this no more was said of fire due to carelessness on Odette’s part, and the next morning Paulette started forth to work. It was in a laundry and she did not like it, but never a word did she say to Lucie about that.