Now the poor child could not even cough.

She had a hiccough and drops of blood oozed from the corners of her mouth.
"It's not my fault if I hardly feel strong," she murmured, as if relieved.

"I've tired myself to-day, trying to put things to rights.
It's pretty tidy, isn't it?
And I wanted to clean the windows as well, but my legs failed me.

How stupid! However, when one has finished one can go to bed." She paused, then said, "Pray, see if my little ones are not cutting themselves with the scissors." And then she relapsed into silence, trembling and listening to a heavy footfall which was approaching up the stairs.

Suddenly father Bijard brutally opened the door.