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〃Dear Joseph！〃 cried Agathe in tears； kissing her son； 〃God will bless
you。 You do love him； then； poor persecuted fellow？ He is indeed our
glory and our hope for the future。 So young； so brave； so unfortunate！
everything is against him； we three must always stand by him。〃
〃You see now that painting is good for something；〃 cried Joseph；
overjoyed to have won his mother's permission to be a great artist。
Madame Bridau rushed to meet her beloved son； Colonel Philippe； at
Havre。 Once there； she walked every day beyond the round tower built
by Francois I。； to look out for the American packet； enduring the
keenest anxieties。 Mothers alone know how such sufferings quicken
maternal love。 The vessel arrived on a fine morning in October； 1819；
without delay； and having met with no mishap。 The sight of a mother
and the air of one's native land produces a certain affect on the
coarsest nature； especially after the miseries of a sea…voyage。
Philippe gave way to a rush of feeling； which made Agathe think to
herself； 〃Ah！ how he loves me！〃 Alas； the hero loved but one person in
the world； and that person was Colonel Philippe。 His misfortunes in
Texas； his stay in New York；a place where speculation and
individualism are carried to the highest pitch； where the brutality of
self…interest attains to cynicism； where man； essentially isolated； is
compelled to push his way for himself and by himself； where politeness
does not exist；in fact； even the minor events of Philippe's journey
had developed in him the worst traits of an old campaigner： he had
grown brutal； selfish； rude； he drank and smoked to excess； physical
hardships and poverty had depraved him。 Moreover； he considered
himself persecuted； and the effect of that idea is to make persons who
are unintelligent persecutors and bigots themselves。 To Philippe's
conception of life； the universe began at his head and ended at his
feet； and the sun shone for him alone。 The things he had seen in New
York； interpreted by his practical nature； carried away his last
scruples on the score of morality。 For such beings； there are but two
ways of existence。 Either they believe； or they do not believe； they
have the virtues of honest men； or they give themselves up to the
demands of necessity； in which case they proceed to turn their
slightest interests and each passing impulse of their passions into
necessities。
Such a system of life carries a man a long way。 It was only in
appearance that Colonel Philippe retained the frankness； plain…
dealing； and easy…going freedom of a soldier。 This made him； in
reality； very dangerous； he seemed as guileless as a child； but；
thinking only of himself； he never did anything without reflecting
what he had better do；like a wily lawyer planning some trick 〃a la
Maitre Gonin〃； words cost him nothing； and he said as many as he could
to get people to believe。 If； unfortunately； some one refused to
accept the explanations with which he justified the contradictions
between his conduct and his professions； the colonel； who was a good
shot and could defy the most adroit fencing…master； and possessed the
coolness of one to whom life is indifferent； was quite ready to demand
satisfaction for the first sharp word； and when a man shows himself
prepared for violence there is little more to be said。 His imposing
stature had taken on a certain rotundity； his face was bronzed from
exposure in Texas； he was still succinct in speech； and had acquired
the decisive tone of a man obliged to make himself feared among the
populations of a new world。 Thus developed； plainly dressed； his body
trained to endurance by his recent hardships； Philippe in the eyes of
his mother was a hero； in point of fact； he had simply become what
people （not to mince matters） call a blackguard。
Shocked at the destitution of her cherished son； Madame Bridau bought
him a complete outfit of clothes at Havre。 After listening to the tale
of his woes； she had not the heart to stop his drinking and eating and
amusing himself as a man just returned from the Champ d'Asile was
likely to eat and drink and divert himself。 It was certainly a fine
conception；that of conquering Texas with the remains of the imperial
army。 The failure was less in the idea than in the men who conceived
it； for Texas is to…day a republic； with a future full of promise。
This scheme of Liberalism under the Restoration distinctly proves that
the interests of the party were purely selfish and not national；
seeking power and nothing else。 Neither men； nor occasion； nor cause；
nor devotion were lacking； only the money and the support of the
hypocritical party at home who dispensed enormous sums； but gave
nothing when it came to recovering empire。 Household managers like
Agathe have a plain common…sense which enables them to perceive such
political chicane： the poor woman saw the truth through the lines of
her son's tale； for she had read； in the exile's interests； all the
pompous editorials of the constitutional journals； and watched the
management of the famous subscription； which produced barely one
hundred and fifty thousand francs when it ought to have yielded five
or six millions。 The Liberal leaders soon found out that they were
playing into the hands of Louis XVIII。 by exporting the glorious
remnants of our grand army； and they promptly abandoned to their fate
the most devoted； the most ardent； the most enthusiastic of its
heroes；those； in short； who had gone in the advance。 Agathe was
never able； however； to make her son see that he was more duped than
persecuted。 With blind belief in her idol； she supposed herself
ignorant； and deplored； as Philippe did； the evil times which had done
him such wrong。 Up to this time he was； to her mind； throughout his
misfortunes； less faulty than victimized by his noble nature； his
energy； the fall of the Emperor； the duplicity of the Liberals； and
the rancor of the Bourbons against the Bonapartists。 During the week
at Havre； a week which was horribly costly； she dared not ask him to
make terms with the royal government and apply to the minister of war。
She had hard work to get him away from Havre； where living is very
expensive； and to bring him back to Paris before her money gave out。
Madame Descoings and Joseph； who were awaiting their arrival in the
courtyard of the coach…office of the Messageries Royales； were struck
with the change in Agathe's face。
〃Your mother has aged ten years in two months；〃 whispered the
Descoings to Joseph； as they all embraced； and the two trunks were
being handed down。
〃How do you do； mere Descoings？〃 was the cool greeting the colonel
bestowed on the old woman whom Joseph was in the habit of calling
〃maman Descoings。〃
〃I have no money to pay for a hackney…coach；〃 said Agathe； in a sad
voice。
〃I have；〃 replied the young painter。 〃What a splendid color Philippe
has turned！〃 he cried； looking at his brother。
〃Yes； I've browned like a