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Bourbons。 When he returned to his mother； in July； 1814； he found her
ruined。
Joseph's scholarship was withdrawn after the holidays； and Madame
Bridau； whose pension came from the Emperor's privy purse； vainly
entreated that it might be inscribed on the rolls of the ministry of
the interior。 Joseph； more of a painter than ever； was delighted with
the turn of events； and entreated his mother to let him go to Monsieur
Regnauld； promising to earn his own living。 He declared he was quite
sufficiently advanced in the second class to get on without rhetoric。
Philippe； a captain at nineteen and decorated； who had； moreover；
served the Emperor as an aide…de…camp in two battles； flattered the
mother's vanity immensely。 Coarse； blustering； and without real merit
beyond the vulgar bravery of a cavalry officer； he was to her mind a
man of genius； whereas Joseph； puny and sickly； with unkempt hair and
absent mind； seeking peace； loving quiet； and dreaming of an artist's
glory； would only bring her； she thought； worries and anxieties。
The winter of 1814…1815 was a lucky one for Joseph。 Secretly
encouraged by Madame Descoings and Bixiou； a pupil of Gros； he went to
work in the celebrated atelier of that painter； whence a vast variety
of talent issued in its day； and there he formed the closest intimacy
with Schinner。 The return from Elba came； Captain Bridau joined the
Emperor at Lyons； accompanied him to the Tuileries； and was appointed
to the command of a squadron in the dragoons of the Guard。 After the
battle of Waterlooin which he was slightly wounded； and where he won
the cross of an officer of the Legion of honorhe happened to be near
Marshal Davoust at Saint…Denis； and was not with the army of the
Loire。 In consequence of this； and through Davoust's intercession； his
cross and his rank were secured to him； but he was placed on half…pay。
Joseph； anxious about his future； studied all through this period with
an ardor which several times made him ill in the midst of these
tumultuous events。
〃It is the smell of the paints；〃 Agathe said to Madame Descoings。 〃He
ought to give up a business so injurious to his health。〃
However； all Agathe's anxieties were at this time for her son the
lieutenant…colonel。 When she saw him again in 1816； reduced from the
salary of nine thousand francs （paid to a commander in the dragoons of
the Imperial Guard） to a half…pay of three hundred francs a month； she
fitted up her attic rooms for him； and spent her savings in doing so。
Philippe was one of the faithful Bonapartes of the cafe Lemblin； that
constitutional Boeotia； he acquired the habits； manners； style； and
life of a half…pay officer； indeed； like any other young man of
twenty…one； he exaggerated them； vowed in good earnest a mortal enmity
to the Bourbons； never reported himself at the War department； and
even refused opportunities which were offered to him for employment in
the infantry with his rank of lieutenant…colonel。 In his mother's
eyes； Philippe seemed in all this to be displaying a noble character。
〃The father himself could have done no more；〃 she said。
Philippe's half…pay sufficed him； he cost nothing at home； whereas all
Joseph's expenses were paid by the two widows。 From that moment；
Agathe's preference for Philippe was openly shown。 Up to that time it
had been secret； but the persecution of this faithful servant of the
Emperor； the recollection of the wound received by her cherished son；
his courage in adversity； which； voluntary though it were； seemed to
her a glorious adversity； drew forth all Agathe's tenderness。 The one
sentence； 〃He is unfortunate；〃 explained and justified everything。
Joseph himself；with the innate simplicity which superabounds in the
artist…soul in its opening years； and who was； moreover； brought up to
admire his big brother；so far from being hurt by the preference of
their mother； encouraged it by sharing her worship of the hero who had
carried Napoleon's orders on two battlefields； and was wounded at
Waterloo。 How could he doubt the superiority of the grand brother；
whom he had beheld in the green and gold uniform of the dragoons of
the Guard； commanding his squadron on the Champ de Mars？
Agathe； notwithstanding this preference； was an excellent mother。 She
loved Joseph； though not blindly； she simply was unable to understand
him。 Joseph adored his mother； Philippe let his mother adore him。
Towards her； the dragoon softened his military brutality； but he never
concealed the contempt he felt for Joseph；expressing it； however； in
a friendly way。 When he looked at his brother； weak and sickly as he
was at seventeen years of age； shrunken with determined toil； and
over…weighted with his powerful head； he nicknamed him 〃Cub。〃
Philippe's patronizing manners would have wounded any one less
carelessly indifferent than the artist； who had； moreover； a firm
belief in the goodness of heart which soldiers hid； he thought；
beneath a brutal exterior。 Joseph did not yet know； poor boy； that
soldiers of genius are as gentle and courteous in manner as other
superior men in any walk of life。 All genius is alike； wherever found。
〃Poor boy！〃 said Philippe to his mother； 〃we mustn't plague him； let
him do as he likes。〃
To his mother's eyes the colonel's contempt was a mark of fraternal
affection。
〃Philippe will always love and protect his brother；〃 she thought to
herself。
CHAPTER III
In 1816； Joseph obtained his mother's permission to convert the garret
which adjoined his attic room into an atelier； and Madame Descoings
gave him a little money for the indispensable requirements of the
painter's trade；in the minds of the two widows； the art of painting
was nothing but a trade。 With the feeling and ardor of his vocation；
the lad himself arranged his humble atelier。 Madame Descoings
persuaded the owner of the house to put a skylight in the roof。 The
garret was turned into a vast hall painted in chocolate…color by
Joseph himself。 On the walls he hung a few sketches。 Agathe
contributed； not without reluctance； an iron stove； so that her son
might be able to work at home； without； however； abandoning the studio
of Gros； nor that of Schinner。
The constitutional party； supported chiefly by officers on half…pay
and the Bonapartists； were at this time inciting 〃emeutes〃 around the
Chamber of Deputies； on behalf of the Charter； though no one actually
wanted it。 Several conspiracies were brewing。 Philippe； who dabbled in
them； was arrested； and then released for want of proof； but the
minister of war cut short his half…pay by putting him on the active
list；a step which might be called a form of discipline。 France was
no longer safe； Philippe was liable to fall into some trap laid for
him by spies；provocative agents； as they were called； being much
talked of in those days。
While Philippe played billiards in disaffected cafes； losing his time
and acquiring the habit of