"There, be quick!" he said before M.Fille had turned the first page.
Then the widow of Palass Poucette came to him and, in a simple harmless way she had, free from coquetry or guile, stood beside him, took his hand and held it.

He seemed almost unconscious of her act, but his fingers convulsively tightened on hers; while she reflected that here was one who needed help sorely; here was a good, warm-hearted man on whom a woman could empty out affection like rain and get a good harvest.
She really was as simple as a child, was Virginie Poucette, and even in her acquaintance with Sebastian Dolores, there had only been working in her the natural desire of a primitive woman to have a man saying that which would keep alive in her the things that make her sing as she toils; and certainly Virginie toiled late and early on her farm.

She really was concerned for Jean Jacques.

Both wife and daughter had taken flight, and he was alone and in trouble.

At this moment she felt she would like to be a sister to him--she was young enough to be his daughter almost.