tle
Tiphaines wore, very fine cotton stockings, a corset by the best maker,
a dress of blue reps, a pretty cape lined with white silk,--all this
that she, Sylvie, might hold her own against the children of the women
who had rejected her. The underclothes were quite in keeping with the
visible articles of dress, for Sylvie feared the examining eyes of the
various mothers. Pierrette's chemises were of fine Madapolam calico.
Mademoiselle Borain had mentioned that the sub-prefect's little girls
wore cambric drawers, embroidered and trimmed in the latest style.
Pierrette had the same. Sylvie ordered for her a charming little drawn
bonnet of blue velvet lined with white satin, precisely like the one
worn by Dr. Martener's little daughter.

Thus attired, Pierrette was the most enchanting little girl in all
Provins. On Sunday, after church, all the ladies kissed her; Mesdames
Tiphaine, Garceland, Galardon, Julliard, and the rest fell in love with
the sweet little Breton girl. This enthusiasm was deeply flattering to
old Sylvie's self-love; she regarded it as less due to Pierrette than
to her own benevolence. She ended, however, in being affronted by her
cousin's success. Pierrette was constantly invited out, and Sylvie
allowed her to go, always for the purpose of triumphing over "those
ladies." Pierrette was much in demand for games or little parties and
dinners with their own little girls. She had succeeded where the Rogrons
had failed; and Mademoiselle Sylvie soon grew indignant that Pierrette
was asked to other children's houses when those children never came to
hers. The artless little thing did not conceal the pleasure she found
in her visits to these ladies, whose affectionate manners contrasted
strangely with the harshness of her two cousins. A mother would have
rejoiced in the happiness of her little one, but the Rogrons had taken
Pierrette for their own sakes, not for hers; their feelings, far from
being parental, were dyed in selfishness and a sort of commercial
calculation.

The handsome outfit, the fine Sunday dresses, and the every-day frocks
were the beginning of Pierrette's troubles. Like all children free to
amuse themselves, who are accustomed to follow the dictates of their own
lively fancies, she was very hard on her clothes, her shoes, and above
all on those embroidered drawers. A mother when she reproves her child
thinks only of the child; her voice is gentle; she does not raise it
unless driven to extrem