Page:Eekhoud - The New Carthage.djvu/45

Rh were preparing her for the destiny of an opulent heiress.

Having become too big a girl, too much the young lady to amuse herself with the boy, she entertained or visited friends of her own age. The little Vanderling girls, daughters of the most celebrated lawyer of the city, two blonde and lively little gossips were her boon companions, in both studies and pleasures. And if, by exception, lacking any other company, Gina so far forgot herself as to play with the Peasant, Cousin Lydia immediately found a pretext for interrupting this recreation. She would send Felicité to warn Mademoiselle of the arrival of some professor, or the dressmaker would be bringing a dress for her to try on, or it would be time for her to practise upon the piano. Felicité, who had been worthily trained, usually anticipated her mistress's intentions and carried out this kind of mission with the most laudable zeal. Laurent had nothing to do but to amuse himself as best he could.

The factory was becoming so prosperous that each year new installations were being made; sheds, workrooms, stores began to encroach upon the gardens surrounding the house. Laurent witnessed, not without regret, the disappearance of the Labyrinth with its tower, its pond and its ducks; that abomination had become dear to him because of Gina.

The house also annexed a part of the garden. In view of the coming debût of their daughter the Dobouziez's were erecting a veritable palace containing a suite of rooms decorated and furnished by the most aristocratic interior decorators. Cousin William seemed to preside over these embellishments, but he always deferred to the selection and the taste of his