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Egyptian heads that Jacob Desmalter manufactured by the gross in 1806；
covering them with a silken green stuff bearing a design of white
geometric circles。 Above this piece of furniture hung a portrait of
Bridau； done in pastel by the hand of an amateur； which at once
attracted the eye。 Though art might have something to say against it；
no one could fail to recognize the firmness of the noble and obscure
citizen upon that brow。 The serenity of the eyes； gentle； yet proud；
was well given； the sagacious mind； to which the prudent lips bore
testimony； the frank smile； the atmosphere of the man of whom the
Emperor had said； 〃Justum et tenacem；〃 had all been caught； if not
with talent； at least with fidelity。 Studying that face； an observer
could see that the man had done his duty。 His countenance bore signs
of the incorruptibility which we attribute to several men who served
the Republic。 On the opposite wall； over a card…table； flashed a
picture of the Emperor in brilliant colors； done by Vernet； Napoleon
was riding rapidly； attended by his escort。
Agathe had bestowed upon herself two large birdcages； one filled with
canaries； the other with Java sparrows。 She had given herself up to
this juvenile fancy since the loss of her husband； irreparable to her；
as； in fact； it was to many others。 By the end of three months； her
widowed chamber had become what it was destined to remain until the
appointed day when she left it forever；a litter of confusion which
words are powerless to describe。 Cats were domiciled on the sofa。 The
canaries； occasionally let loose； left their commas on the furniture。
The poor dear woman scattered little heaps of millet and bits of
chickweed about the room； and put tidbits for the cats in broken
saucers。 Garments lay everywhere。 The room breathed of the provinces
and of constancy。 Everything that once belonged to Bridau was
scrupulously preserved。 Even the implements in his desk received the
care which the widow of a paladin might have bestowed upon her
husband's armor。 One slight detail here will serve to bring the tender
devotion of this woman before the reader's mind。 She had wrapped up a
pen and sealed the package； on which she wrote these words； 〃Last pen
used by my dear husband。〃 The cup from which he drank his last draught
was on the fireplace； caps and false hair were tossed； at a later
period； over the glass globes which covered these precious relics。
After Bridau's death not a trace of coquetry； not even a woman's
ordinary care of her person； was left in the young widow of thirty…
five。 Parted from the only man she had ever known； esteemed； and
loved； from one who had never caused her the slightest unhappiness；
she was no longer conscious of her womanhood； all things were as
nothing to her； she no longer even thought of her dress。 Nothing was
ever more simply done or more complete than this laying down of
conjugal happiness and personal charm。 Some human beings obtain
through love the power of transferring their selftheir Ito the
being of another； and when death takes that other； no life of their
own is possible for them。
Agathe； who now lived only for her children； was infinitely sad at the
thought of the privations this financial ruin would bring upon them。
From the time of her removal to the rue Mazarin a shade of melancholy
came upon her face； which made it very touching。 She hoped a little in
the Emperor； but the Emperor at that time could do no more than he was
already doing； he was giving three hundred francs a year to each child
from his privy purse； besides the scholarships。
As for the brilliant Descoings； she occupied an appartement on the
second floor similar to that of her niece above her。 She had made
Madame Bridau an assignment of three thousand francs out of her
annuity。 Roguin； the notary； attended to this in Madame Bridau's
interest； but it would take seven years of such slow repayment to make
good the loss。 The Descoings； thus reduced to an income of twelve
hundred francs； lived with her niece in a small way。 These excellent
but timid creatures employed a woman…of…all…work for the morning hours
only。 Madame Descoings； who liked to cook； prepared the dinner。 In the
evenings a few old friends； persons employed at the ministry who owed
their places to Bridau； came for a game of cards with the two widows。
Madame Descoings still cherished her trey； which she declared was
obstinate about turning up。 She expected； by one grand stroke； to
repay the enforced loan she had made upon her niece。 She was fonder of
the little Bridaus than she was of her grandson Bixiou；partly from a
sense of the wrong she had done them； partly because she felt the
kindness of her niece； who； under her worst deprivations； never
uttered a word of reproach。 So Philippe and Joseph were cossetted； and
the old gambler in the Imperial Lottery of France （like others who
have a vice or a weakness to atone for） cooked them nice little
dinners with plenty of sweets。 Later on； Philippe and Joseph could
extract from her pocket； with the utmost facility； small sums of
money； which the younger used for pencils； paper； charcoal and prints；
the elder to buy tennis…shoes； marbles； twine； and pocket…knives。
Madame Descoings's passion forced her to be content with fifty francs
a month for her domestic expenses； so as to gamble with the rest。
On the other hand； Madame Bridau； motherly love； kept her expenses
down to the same sum。 By way of penance for her former over…
confidence； she heroically cut off her own little enjoyments。 As with
other timid souls of limited intelligence； one shock to her feelings
rousing her distrust led her to exaggerate a defect in her character
until it assumed the consistency of a virtue。 The Emperor； she said to
herself； might forget them； he might die in battle； her pension； at
any rate； ceased with her life。 She shuddered at the risk her children
ran of being left alone in the world without means。 Quite incapable of
understanding Roguin when he explained to her that in seven years
Madame Descoings's assignment would replace the money she had sold out
of the Funds； she persisted in trusting neither the notary nor her
aunt； nor even the government； she believed in nothing but herself and
the privations she was practising。 By laying aside three thousand
francs every year from her pension； she would have thirty thousand
francs at the end of ten years； which would give fifteen hundred a
year to her children。 At thirty…six； she might expect to live twenty
years longer； and if she kept to the same system of economy she might
leave to each child enough for the bare necessaries of life。
Thus the two widows passed from hollow opulence to voluntary poverty；
one under the pressure of a vice； the other through the promptings
of the purest virtue。 None of these petty details are useless in
teaching the lesson which ought to be learned from this present
history； drawn as it is from the most comm