Paulette flung out her hands contemptuously. “It is a den of confusion, not so bad now, perhaps since there are fewer vehicles, but I do not find myself at home, and I would rather work in the fields than in a vile laundry.”
“Is that what you are doing?” Victor asked in surprise.
“One must do what one can. I do not care to beg nor to live upon charity. It is necessary to have clothing as well as food. This moment that child needs shoes, or will soon.”
“Does your father know of this?” Victor asked Lucie.
“My father? We have not had a word from him. In some way Paulette was able to find out that he had been sent to a convalescent hospital in the south. We hope my mother is with him, but we do not know. There seems no way to find out. We do not know where to inquire about such things.”
“This must be attended to,” exclaimed Victor. “It cannot be allowed to go on. I will see to this myself. If your father by this time has not returned to his duties, at least he is well enough to know what is happening to you.”
“We did not want to worry him while he was so ill,” explained Lucie, “and after that we did not know where to address him.”
“You could have found out.”
“Where?”
Victor shrugged his shoulders in despair. The helplessness of the girl, the ignorance of the peasant woman, who was also proud and suspicious, was really pitiful. Of Lucie’s father he felt sure he could get a report. Of her mother he had grave doubts which he did not mention. “We shall soon get this straightened out,” he said confidently. “It is the first matter I shall attend to. You have not noticed that I have a promotion, Lucie, and I am much aggrieved. Do you not perceive that I am now a corporal?”