"Périne, my poor child, you must go; there is no dinner for you today. Don't cry, don't cry; you meant no harm—you did not know, and Heaven is witness how sorely we sometimes suffer for that!"
Between her sobs the girl jerked out piteously:
"Périne come back?"
Marie looked imploringly at her husband, but he shook his head.
"Not tonight, not to-night, my child. As you go out beg for a bit of bread from M. Plon, he is in a splendid temper, and will not refuse it. There make haste, go!"
She took her by the shoulders and pushed her towards the door, but when she left her outside, kissed her.
PART II.
Périne had no sooner gone than Jean came out and flung himself angrily on a chair.
"I shall stand this no longer. I give you notice of my determination, Marie. You have her here, I believe, solely to torment me. Figure to yourself having to stand by helpless, and see the creature put an end to both one's dinner and one's pipe! She is not to come here any more, those are my orders. Do you hear?"