Twenty-one started a song and some of the others took it up. They sing softly, many of them have very nice voices.
Père Mathurin
N'a pas de chaussons!
Il en aura;
Il n'en aura pas.
Roulons-le, Père Mathurin,
Roulons-le
Jusqu'à demain!
I got everything ready on the dressing-table. I kept all the time looking at the clock. Every few minutes I passed where I could see Number 29. He lay always with his eyes shut. Madame Alice had finished her cleaning and had gone to tidy up. Madame Marthe would come back and we would have to begin the dressings.
Dans une brouette
Père Mathurin
Roulons-le
Jusqu'à demain.
When I was unrolling the big cotton, I felt sure, suddenly, that 29 was waiting for me. It was odd, for I could not see him round the hoop; I went to him.
His eyes were open and he tried to say something. His mouth was black with fever.
I leaned down close.
I was thinking, "I've got to tell him."
But he said, "Don't worry, I know."