Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/100

76 being in this manner expiated, the stepmother treated the poor girl with less barbarity. Her brothers and sisters ceased to torment Blandine and to keep her at a distance like an ill-odoured animal. Her services were accepted and she obtained the favor of being allowed to exert herself for the benefit of the family. Some time after that her step-mother died.

Blandine, at that time fifteen years of age, showed herself of decidedly heroic stamp, although simple in character. She took into her hands the control of the household, busied herself over its multifarious needs, assumed all responsibilities and cares, and looked after the children, not resting until they were all advantageously placed out, the boys as apprentices and the girls as domestic servants. So well did the valiant little mother work that she found her character more than rehabilitated. The first was the parish priest, who could not make it out; his admiration of her was mingled with a sort of stupefaction. The pluck and sturdy character of this brat of a girl quite confused him.