The plant-stands, taken care of by the head-gardener of Presles, rejoiced the eye with their pyramids of bloom.

The dining-room and billiard-room were furnished in mahogany.
Around the house the steward's wife had laid out a beautiful garden, carefully cultivated, which opened into the great park.

Groups of choice parks hid the offices and stables.

To improve the entrance by which visitors came to see her, she had substituted a handsome iron gateway for the shabby railing, which she discarded.
The dependence in which the situation of their dwelling placed the Moreaus, was thus adroitly concealed, and they seemed all the more like rich and independent persons taking care of the property of a friend, because neither the count nor the countess ever came to Presles to take down their pretensions.

Moreover, the perquisites granted by Monsieur de Serizy allowed them to live in the midst of that abundance which is the luxury of country life.