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be a provincial。 Philippe； her favorite child； was he not the great
man of the family at last？ in his early errors she saw only the
ebullitions of youth。 Joseph； to the merit of whose productions she
was insensible； for she saw them too long in process of gestation to
admire them when finished； seemed to her no more advanced in 1828 than
he was in 1816。 Poor Joseph owed money； and was bowed down by the
burden of debt； he had chosen； she felt； a worthless career that made
him no return。 She could not conceive why they had given him the cross
of the Legion of honor。 Philippe； on the other hand； rich enough to
cease gambling； a guest at the fetes of MADAME； the brilliant colonel
who at all reviews and in all processions appeared before her eyes in
splendid uniforms； with his two crosses on his breast； realized all
her maternal dreams。 One such day of public ceremony effaced from
Agathe's mind the horrible sight of Philippe's misery on the Quai de
l'Ecole； on that day he passed his mother at the self…same spot； in
attendance on the Dauphin； with plumes in his shako； and his pelisse
gorgeous with gold and fur。 Agathe； who to her artist son was now a
sort of devoted gray sister； felt herself the mother of none but the
dashing aide…de…camp to his Royal Highness； the Dauphin of France。
Proud of Philippe； she felt he made the ease and happiness of her
life；forgetting that the lottery…office； by which she was enabled to
live at all； came through Joseph。
One day Agathe noticed that her poor artist was more worried than
usual by the bill of his color…man； and she determined； though cursing
his profession in her heart； to free him from his debts。 The poor
woman kept the house with the proceeds of her office； and took care
never to ask Joseph for a farthing。 Consequently she had no money of
her own； but she relied on Philippe's good heart and well…filled
purse。 For three years she had waited in expectation of his coming to
see her； she now imagined that if she made an appeal to him he would
bring some enormous sum； and her thoughts dwelt on the happiness she
should feel in giving it to Joseph； whose judgment of his brother；
like that of Madame Descoings； was so unfair。
Saying nothing to Joseph； she wrote the following letter to
Philippe：
To Monsieur le comte de Brambourg：
My dear Philippe；You have not given the least little word of
remembrance to your mother for five years。 That is not right。 You
should remember the past； if only for the sake of your excellent
brother。 Joseph is now in need of money； and you are floating in
wealth； he works； while you are flying from fete to fete。 You now
possess； all to yourself； the property of my brother。 Little
Borniche tells me you cannot have less than two hundred thousand
francs a year。 Well； then； come and see Joseph。 During your visit；
slip into the skull a few thousand…franc notes。 Philippe； you owe
them to us； nevertheless； your brother will feel grateful to you；
not to speak of the happiness you will give
Your mother；
Agathe Bridau； nee Rouget
Two days later the concierge brought to the atelier； where poor Agathe
was breakfasting with Joseph； the following terrible letter：
My dear Mother；A man does not marry a Mademoiselle Amelie de
Soulanges without the purse of Fortunatus； if under the name of
Comte de Brambourg he hides that of
Your son；
Philippe Bridau
As Agathe fell half…fainting on the sofa； the letter dropped to the
floor。 The slight noise made by the paper； and the smothered but
dreadful exclamation which escaped Agathe startled Joseph； who had
forgotten his mother for a moment and was vehemently rubbing in a
sketch； he leaned his head round the edge of his canvas to see what
had happened。 The sight of his mother stretched out on the floor made
him drop palette and brushes； and rush to lift what seemed a lifeless
body。 He took Agathe in his arms and carried her to her own bed； and
sent the servant for his friend Horace Bianchon。 As soon as he could
question his mother she told him of her letter to Philippe； and of the
answer she had received from him。 The artist went to his atelier and
picked up the letter； whose concise brutality had broken the tender
heart of the poor mother； and shattered the edifice of trust her
maternal preference had erected。 When Joseph returned to her bedside
he had the good feeling to be silent。 He did not speak of his brother
in the three weeks during whichwe will not say the illness； butthe
death agony of the poor woman lasted。 Bianchon； who came every day and
watched his patient with the devotion of a true friend； told Joseph
the truth on the first day of her seizure。
〃At her age；〃 he said； 〃and under the circumstances which have
happened to her； all we can hope to do is to make her death as little
painful as possible。〃
She herself felt so surely called of God that she asked the next day
for the religious help of old Abbe Loraux； who had been her confessor
for more than twenty…two years。 As soon as she was alone with him； and
had poured her griefs into his heart； she saidas she had said to
Madame Hochon； and had repeated to herself again and again throughout
her life：
〃What have I done to displease God？ Have I not loved Him with all my
soul？ Have I wandered from the path of grace？ What is my sin？ Can I be
guilty of wrong when I know not what it is？ Have I the time to repair
it？〃
〃No；〃 said the old man； in a gentle voice。 〃Alas！ your life seems to
have been pure and your soul spotless； but the eye of God； poor
afflicted creature； is keener than that of his ministers。 I see the
truth too late； for you have misled even me。〃
Hearing these words from lips that had never spoken other than
peaceful and pleasant words to her； Agathe rose suddenly in her bed
and opened her eyes wide； with terror and distress。
〃Tell me！ tell me！〃 she cried。
〃Be comforted；〃 said the priest。 〃Your punishment is a proof that you
will receive pardon。 God chastens his elect。 Woe to those whose
misdeeds meet with fortunate success； they will be kneaded again in
humanity until they in their turn are sorely punished for simple
errors； and are brought to the maturity of celestial fruits。 Your
life； my daughter； has been one long error。 You have fallen into the
pit which you dug for yourself； we fail ever on the side we have
ourselves weakened。 You gave your heart to an unnatural son； in whom
you made your glory； and you have misunderstood the child who is your
true glory。 You have been so deeply unjust that you never even saw the
striking contrast between the brothers。 You owe the comfort of your
life to Joseph； while your other son has pillaged you repeatedly。 The
poor son； who loves you with no return of equal tenderness； gives you
all the comfort that your life has had； the rich son； who never thinks
of you； despises you and desires your death〃
〃O