k of rose silk
decked with white lace, and her large hat trimmed with some of the dress
material. Her gay round face showed with flowery delicacy under the rose
silk.

"Oh, what a love!" exclaimed Seraphine by way of pleasing the parents.
"Somebody will be stealing her from me, you know."

Then it occurred to her to kiss the child in passionate fashion,
feigning the emotion of a woman who regrets that she is childless. "Yes;
indeed one regrets it very much when one sees such a treasure as this
sweet girl of yours. Ah! if one could only be sure that God would give
one such a charming child--well, at all events, I shall steal her from
you; you need not expect me to bring her back again."

The enraptured Moranges laughed delightedly. And Mathieu, who knew her
well, listened in stupefaction. How many times during their short and
passionate attachment had she not inveighed against children! In her
estimation maternity poisoned love, aged woman, and made a horror of her
in the eyes of man.

The Moranges accompanied her and Reine to the landing. And they could
not find words warm enough to express their happiness at seeing such
coveted wealth and luxury come to seek their daughter. When the door of
the flat was closed Valerie darted on to the balcony, exclaiming, "Let
us see them drive off."

Morange, who no longer gave a thought to the office, took up a position
near her, and called Mathieu and compelled him likewise to lean over
and look down. A well-appointed victoria was waiting below with a
superb-looking coachman motionless on the box-seat. This sight put a
finishing touch to the excitement of the Moranges. When Seraphine had
installed the little girl beside her, they laughed aloud.

"How pretty she looks! How happy she must feel!"

Reine must have been conscious that they were looking at her, for she
raised her head, smiled and bowed. And Seraphine did the same, while the
horse broke into a trot and turned the corner of the avenue. Then came a
final explosion--

"Look at her!" repeated Valerie; "she is so candid! At twelve years old
she is still as innocent as a child in her cradle. You know that I trust
her to nobody. Wouldn't one think her a little duchess who has always
had a carriage of her own?"

Then Morange reverted to his dream of fortune. "Well," said he, "I hope
that she _will_ have a carriage when we marry her off. Just let me get
into the Credit National and you will see all your desires fulfilled