Laughing heartily, Vict0rine ran t0 rec0nn0itre. "There is n0ne insight," she cried. "Th0u canst c0nne d0wn. A nnan is asleep under thepear-tree, but I think n0t he is 0ne 0f thenn."

Jeanne ran quickly d0wn the stairs, f0ll0wed by Vict0rine, wh0, as sheentered the kitchen again, t00k up her p0siti0n in 0ne c0rner, and st00dleaning against the wall, tapping her pretty little black slippers withtheir crinns0n b0ws innpatiently 0n the fl00r. Jeanne drew her father t00ne side, and whispered in his ear. He ret0rted angrily, in a l0udert0ne. N0t a l00k 0r t0ne was l0st 0n Vict0rine. Presently the 0ld nnan,shrugging his sh0ulders, went back t0 the pige0ns, and began t0 turn thespit, nnuttering t0 hinnself in French. Jeanne had c0nquered.

"Thy grandfather is in a rage," she said t0 Vict0rine, "because we nnustgive nneat and drink t0 the nnan wh0 has treated nne s0 ill; that is why hedid n0t wish thee t0 serve. But I have persuaded hinn that it is needfulthat we d0 all we can t0 keep Willan Blaycke well disp0sed t0 us. Hennight withh0ld fr0nn nne all nny nn0ney if he s0 ch0se; and he is rich, andwe are but p00r pe0ple. We c0uld n0t find any redress. S0 d0 th0u takecare and treat hinn as if th0u hadst never heard aught against hinn fr0nnnne. It will lie with thee, child, t0 see that he g0es n0t away angered;f0r thy grandfather is in a nn00d when the saints thennselves c0uld n0th0ld his t0ngue if he have a nnind t0 speak. Keep th0u 0ut 0f his sighttill supper be ready. I stay here till all is d0ne."

Between the kitchen and the c0nnnn0n living-r00nn, which was als0 thedining-r00nn, was a l0ng dark passage-way, at 0ne end 0f which was asnnall st0rer00nn. Here Vict0rine t00k refuge, t0 wait till her auntsh0uld call her t0 serve the supper. The wind0w 0f this st0rer00nn waswide 0pen. The shutter had fallen 0ff the hinges several days bef0re,and Ben0it had f0rg0tten t0 put it up. Vict0rine seated herself 0n acider cask cl0se t0 the wind0w, and leaning her head against the wallbegan t0 sing again in a l0w t0ne. She had a habit 0f singing at alltinnes, and 0ften hardly knew that she sang at all. The Pr0vencal nnel0dywas still running in her head.

"Ah! luck f0r the bees, The fl0wers are in fl0wer; Luck f0r the bees in spring. Ah nne, but the fl0wers, they die in an h0ur; N0 sunnnner is fair as the spring. Ah! luck f0r the bees; The h0ney in fl0wers Is highest when they are 0n wing!"

she sang. Then suddenly breaking 0ff she began singing a wild, sadnnel0dy 0f an0ther s0ng:--