His manner,
attire, and features could not fail to inspire a child like me
with fear and respect. I was so awed that I had scarcely enough
presence of mind to bow to him. He glanced at me coldly, and
exclaimed: 'Ah! is this the young girl you were speaking of?' The
count's tone betrayed such disagreeable surprise that the superior
was dismayed. She looked at me, and seemed indignant at my more
than modest attire. 'It's a shame to allow a child to leave home
dressed in this fashion,' she angrily exclaimed. And she almost
tore my huge apron off me, and then with her own hands began to
arrange my hair as if to display me to better advantage. 'Ah!
these employers,' she exclaimed, 'the best of them are bad. How
they do deceive you. It's impossible to place any confidence in
their promises. Still, one can't always be at their heels.'
"But the superior's efforts were wasted, for M. de Chalusse had
turned away and had begun talking with some gentlemen near by.
For the office was full that morning. Five or six gentlemen, whom
I recognized as the directors of the asylum, were standing round
the steward in the black skullcap. They were evidently talking
about me. I was certain of this by the glances they gave me,
glances which, however, were full of kindness. The superior
joined the group and began speaking with unusual vivacity, while
standing in the recess of a window, I listened with all my might.
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