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place to Agathe； meantime she stipulated that the widow should be
taken as assistant； and receive a salary of six hundred francs。 Poor
Agathe； who was obliged to be at the office by ten in the morning； had
scarcely time to get her dinner。 She returned to her work at seven in
the evening； remaining there till midnight。 Joseph never； for two
years； failed to fetch his mother at night； and bring her back to the
rue Mazarin； and often he went to take her to dinner； his friends
frequently saw him leave the opera or some brilliant salon to be
punctually at midnight at the office in the rue Vivienne。
Agathe soon acquired the monotonous regularity of life which becomes a
stay and a support to those who have endured the shock of violent
sorrows。 In the morning； after doing up her room； in which there were
no longer cats and little birds； she prepared the breakfast at her own
fire and carried it into the studio； where she ate it with her son。
She then arranged Joseph's bedroom； put out the fire in her own
chamber； and brought her sewing to the studio； where she sat by the
little iron stove； leaving the room if a comrade or a model entered
it。 Though she understood nothing whatever of art； the silence of the
studio suited her。 In the matter of art she made not the slightest
progress； she attempted no hypocrisy； she was utterly amazed at the
importance they all attached to color； composition； drawing。 When the
Cenacle friends or some brother…painter； like Schinner； Pierre
Grassou； Leon de Lora；a very youthful 〃rapin〃 who was called at that
time Mistigris；discussed a picture； she would come back afterwards；
examine it attentively； and discover nothing to justify their fine
words and their hot disputes。 She made her son's shirts； she mended
his stockings； she even cleaned his palette； supplied him with rags to
wipe his brushes； and kept things in order in the studio。 Seeing how
much thought his mother gave to these little details； Joseph heaped
attentions upon her in return。 If mother and son had no sympathies in
the matter of art； they were at least bound together by signs of
tenderness。 The mother had a purpose。 One morning as she was petting
Joseph while he was sketching a large picture （finished in after years
and never understood）； she said； as it were； casually and aloud；
〃My God！ what is he doing？〃
〃Doing？ who？〃
〃Philippe。〃
〃Oh； ah！ he's sowing his wild oats； that fellow will make something of
himself by and by。〃
〃But he has gone through the lesson of poverty； perhaps it was poverty
which changed him to what he is。 If he were prosperous he would be
good〃
〃You think； my dear mother； that he suffered during that journey of
his。 You are mistaken； he kept carnival in New York just as he does
here〃
〃But if he is suffering at this moment； near to us； would it not be
horrible？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Joseph。 〃For my part； I will gladly give him some
money； but I don't want to see him； he killed our poor Descoings。〃
〃So；〃 resumed Agathe； 〃you would not be willing to paint his
portrait？〃
〃For you； dear mother； I'd suffer martyrdom。 I can make myself
remember nothing except that he is my brother。〃
〃His portrait as a captain of dragoons on horseback？〃
〃Yes； I've a copy of a fine horse by Gros and I haven't any use for
it。〃
〃Well； then； go and see that friend of his and find out what has
become of him。〃
〃I'll go！〃
Agathe rose； her scissors and work fell at her feet； she went and
kissed Joseph's head； and dropped two tears on his hair。
〃He is your passion； that fellow；〃 said the painter。 〃We all have our
hopeless passions。〃
That afternoon； about four o'clock； Joseph went to the rue du Sentier
and found his brother； who had taken Giroudeau's place。 The old
dragoon had been promoted to be cashier of a weekly journal
established by his nephew。 Although Finot was still proprietor of the
other newspaper； which he had divided into shares； holding all the
shares himself； the proprietor and editor 〃de visu〃 was one of his
friends； named Lousteau； the son of that very sub…delegate of Issoudun
on whom the Bridaus' grandfather； Doctor Rouget； had vowed vengeance；
consequently he was the nephew of Madame Hochon。 To make himself
agreeable to his uncle； Finot gave Philippe the place Giroudeau was
quitting； cutting off； however； half the salary。 Moreover； daily； at
five o'clock； Giroudeau audited the accounts and carried away the
receipts。 Coloquinte； the old veteran； who was the office boy and did
errands； also kept an eye on the slippery Philippe； who was； however；
behaving properly。 A salary of six hundred francs； and the five
hundred of his cross sufficed him to live； all the more because；
living in a warm office all day and at the theatre on a free pass
every evening； he had only to provide himself with food and a place to
sleep in。 Coloquinte was departing with the stamped papers on his
head； and Philippe was brushing his false sleeves of green linen； when
Joseph entered。
〃Bless me； here's the cub！〃 cried Philippe。 〃Well； we'll go and dine
together。 You shall go to the opera； Florine and Florentine have got a
box。 I'm going with Giroudeau； you shall be of the party； and I'll
introduce you to Nathan。〃
He took his leaded cane； and moistened a cigar。
〃I can't accept your invitation； I am to take our mother to dine at a
table d'hote。〃
〃Ah！ how is she； the poor； dear woman？〃
〃She is pretty well；〃 answered the painter； 〃I have just repainted our
father's portrait； and aunt Descoings's。 I have also painted my own；
and I should like to give our mother yours； in the uniform of the
dragoons of the Imperial Guard。〃
〃Very good。〃
〃You will have to come and sit。〃
〃I'm obliged to be in this hen…coop from nine o'clock till five。〃
〃Two Sundays will be enough。〃
〃So be it； little man；〃 said Napoleon's staff officer； lighting his
cigar at the porter's lamp。
When Joseph related Philippe's position to his mother； on their way to
dinner in the rue de Beaune； he felt her arm tremble in his； and joy
lighted up her worn face； the poor soul breathed like one relieved of
a heavy weight。 The next day； inspired by joy and gratitude； she paid
Joseph a number of little attentions； she decorated his studio with
flowers； and bought him two stands of plants。 On the first Sunday when
Philippe was to sit； Agathe arranged a charming breakfast in the
studio。 She laid it all out on the table； not forgetting a flask of
brandy； which； however； was only half full。 She herself stayed behind
a screen； in which she made a little hole。 The ex…dragoon sent his
uniform the night before； and she had not refrained from kissing it。
When Philippe was placed； in full dress； on one of those straw horses；
all saddled； which Joseph had hired for the occasion； Agathe； fearing
to betray her presence； mingled the soft sound of her tears with the
conversation of the two