"But while reading English can you turn it into French?"
"When the phrases are not too difficult; yes, sir."
"The daily news from the papers, do you think you could do that?"
"I have never tried that, because if I read an English paper there is no need for me to translate it for myself, because I understand what it says."
"Well, we will try. Tell the machinists that when they want you they can call you, and then come and read from an English paper some articles that I wish to have read to me in French. Go and tell the men and then come back and sit down here beside me."
When she had done what she was told, she sat down beside M. Vulfran and took the newspaper that he handed her, "The Dundee News."
"What shall I read?" she asked as she unfolded it.
"Look for the commercial column."
The long black and white columns bewildered poor little Perrine. She was so nervous and her hands trembled so she wondered if she would ever be able to accomplish what she was asked to do. She gazed from the top of one page to the bottom of another, and still could not find what she was seeking. She began to fear that her employer would get impatient with her for being so slow and awkward.
But instead of getting impatient he told her to take her time. With that keen hearing so subtle with the blind, he had divined what a state of emotion she was in. He could tell that from the rustling of the newspaper she held in her hand.