d'Etaples, which delighted Jacqueline all
the more, because she thought it probable they would displease her
stepmother. At last the magnificent personage, his face adorned with
luxuriant whiskers, appeared with the bow of a great artist or a
diplomatist; took Jacqueline's measure as if he were fulfilling some
important function, said a few brief words to his secretary, and
then disappeared; the group of English beauties saying in chorus that
Mademoiselle might come back that day week and try it on.

Accordingly, a week later Jacqueline, seated on the wooden-horse used
for this purpose, had the satisfaction of assuring herself that her
habit, fitting marvelously to her bust, showed not a wrinkle, any more
than a 'gant de Suede' shows on the hand; it was closely fitted to
a figure not yet fully developed, but which the creator of the
chef-d'oeuvre deigned to declare was faultless. Usually, he said, he
recommended his customers to wear a certain corset of a special cut,
with elastic material over the hips covered by satin that matched the
riding-habit, but at Mademoiselle's age, and so supple as she was,
the corset was not necessary. In short, the habit was fashioned to
perfection, and fitted like her skin to her little flexible figure.
In her close-fitting petticoat, her riding-trousers and nothing else,
Jacqueline felt herself half naked, though she was buttoned up to her
throat. She had taken an attitude on her wooden horse such as might have
been envied by an accomplished equestrienne, her elbows held well back,
her shoulders down, her chest expanded, her right leg over the pommel,
her left foot in the stirrup, and never after did any real gallop give
her the same delight as this imaginary ride on an imaginary horse, she
looking at herself with entire satisfaction all the time in an enormous
cheval-glass.

BOOK 2.

CHAPTER VII. THE BLUE BAND

Love, like any other human malady, should be treated according to the
age and temperament of the sufferer. Madame de Nailles, who was a very
keen observer, especially where her own interests were concerned, lent
herself with the best possible grace to everything that might amuse and
distract Jacqueline, of whom she had by this time grown afraid. Not that
she now dreaded her as a rival. The attitude of coldness and reserve
that the young girl had adopted in her intercourse with Marien, her
stepmother could see, was no evidence of coquetry. She showed, in her
behav