ms to be no keeping up with these Americans," laughed Madame
Bretton. "Certainly there is no keeping up with their cost of living!"

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XV

THE GREAT SURPRISE

During the next few months the Bretton family prospered in their careers
in the Paterson mills. Madame Bretton, whose deftness and care in
handling material was quickly recognized, was promoted to a position
much better suited to her age and refinement, and also one that was more
lucrative. In addition Marie, skilful too of touch, was put in the
labeling department. But with undaunted spirit Pierre still drudged at
the heavier work of the mill, mastering one step after another of its
dull processes. To another boy the slow climb to the top of the ladder
might have been tedious; but to the French lad, with eyes fixed
constantly on the great industry of silk-making as a whole, every part
in the ingenious art became interesting.

Despite the fact that Mr. Gautier was his uncle the boy received no
favors. In such a vast group of factories one superintendent had small
jurisdiction over individual workers; nor was Mr. Gautier a man to
promote unjustly. Whatever progress Pierre made he made on his own
merits. On entering the mills he had been employed at _lacing_, one of
the simpler tasks usually given to beginners. His duty was to run short
threads in and out through the skeins of silk in order to divide them
into four parts, and prevent them from becoming tangled in the dyeing.
Many young boys and girls known as _lacers_ were set at this task for
the first month or two. But Pierre did not remain a lacer. He went on to
being a learner in other departments.

He saw how the raw silk which arrived at the factories in bales ranging
from eighty to a hundred twisted skeins were weighed; sorted as to
quality; soaked in oil so that the gum might be extracted, and the ends
freed for winding. He witnessed the drying, or rather the partial
drying, of the silk. All this was an old story, for he had seen every
step of the process before when at the Gaspard throwing mills. Then
followed the winding on big, three-inch spools; and the first spinning.
Afterward if the thread was for tram it went direct to the doublers, to
be made stronger; but if it was for organzine it was spun again after
leaving the doubling frames, and was given a much tighter twisting. It
was then reeled into skeins again, this form being found the most
convenient one for dyeing