"You never thought of begging?" he asked, when she came to the time when she had left the woods after being overtaken by the terrible storm.
"No, sir; never."
"But what did you count upon when you saw that you could not get any work?"
"I didn't count on anything. I thought that if I kept on as long as I had the strength I might find something. It was only when I was so hungry and so tired that I had to give up. If I had dropped one hour sooner all would have been over."
Then she told him how her donkey, licking her face, had brought her back to consciousness, and how the ragpicker had saved her from starvation. Then passing quickly over the days she had spent with La Rouquerie, she came to the day when she had made Rosalie's acquaintance.
"And Rosalie told me," she said, "that anyone who wants work can get it in your factories. I came and they employed me at once."
"When are you going on to your relations?"
Perrine was embarrassed. She did not expect this question.
"I am not going any further," she replied, after a moment's hesitation. "I don't know if they want me, for they were angry with father. I was going to try and be near them because I have no one else, but I don't know if I shall be welcomed. Now that I have found work, it seems to me that it would be better for me to stay here. What will become of me if they turn me away? I know I shall not starve here, and I am too afraid to go on the road again. I shall not let them know that I am here unless some piece of luck comes my way."
"Didn't your relatives ever try to find out about you?" asked M. Vulfran.