Page:Eekhoud - The New Carthage.djvu/84

56 the ladies whose carriages passed theirs almost included him in their bows.

They stopped in turn at the Saint-Fardier's tailor, haberdasher, bootmaker and hatter. The tailor took Paridael's measure for a suit, for which Gina chose the most expensive and finest material, in spite of the protests of her mother, who was beginning to find Gina's solicitude for their young, poor relative a rather ruinous affair. To what prodigalities would Gina not go before being obliged to return home? Every minute the economical lady consulted her watch.

"Gina, if s time for luncheon. Your father is waiting for us."

But Gina had taken it into her head that it was her turn to arrange her cousin's outfit, and she brought to the execution of her plan her customary haste and petulance. When she had decided to do something she brooked neither delay nor reflection. "Now or never" could well have been upon her crest.

At the haberdasher's, besides ordering six fine linen shirts to be made up for her protégé, she bought a couple of beautiful ties. At the hatter's he exchanged his worn felt for an irreproachable headgear, and at the bootmaker's he bought shoes that fitted his foot to perfection. He wore his new shoes and hat. It was the beginning of a metamorphosis. At the glove shop Gina remarked for the first time that he had a finely shaped foot and hand. She rejoiced in the gradual change that was taking place in the boy's appearance.

"Look, Mamma! He hasn't such a clownish appearance now. In fact, he is almost nice looking, isn't he?"

The "almost" spoiled Laurent's happiness at bit, but he could hope that when he was newly clad from head