Thetwowidowsclubbedtheirrevenues，andsowereinpossessionofajointincomeoftwelvethousandfrancsayear。Thisseemsaverysimpleandnaturalproceeding。Butnothinginlifeismoredeservingofattentionthanthethingsthatarecallednatural；weareonourguardagainsttheunnaturalandextraordinary。Forthisreason，youwillfindmenofexperience——lawyers，judges，doctors，andpriests——
　　attachingimmenseimportancetosimplematters；andtheyareoftenthoughtover-scrupulous。Buttheserpentamidflowersisoneofthefinestmythsthatantiquityhasbequeathedfortheguidanceofourlives。Howoftenwehearfools，tryingtoexcusethemselvesintheirowneyesorintheeyesofothers，exclaiming，“Itwasallsonaturalthatanyonewouldhavebeentakenin。“
　　In1809，MadameDescoings，whonevertoldherage，wassixty-five。Inherheydayshehadbeenpopularlycalledabeauty，andwasnowoneofthoserarewomenwhomtimerespects。Sheowedtoherexcellentconstitutiontheprivilegeofpreservinghergoodlooks，which，however，wouldnotbearcloseexamination。Shewasofmediumheight，plump，andfresh，withfineshouldersandaratherrosycomplexion。
　　Herblondhair，borderingonchestnut，showed，inspiteofherhusband’scatastrophe，notatingeofgray。Shelovedgoodcheer，andlikedtoconcoctnicelittlemadedishes；yet，fondasshewasofeating，shealsoadoredthetheatreandcherishedavicewhichshewrappedinimpenetrablemystery——sheboughtintolotteries。CanthatbetheabyssofwhichmythologywarnsusunderthefableoftheDanaidesandtheircask？MadameDescoings，likeotherwomenwhoareluckyenoughtokeepyoungformanyyears，spendrathertoomuchuponherdress；butasidefromthesetriflingdefectsshewasthepleasantestofwomentolivewith。Ofeveryone’sopinion，neveropposinganybody，herkindlyandcommunicativegayetygavepleasuretoall。Shehad，moreover，aParisianqualitywhichcharmedtheretiredclerksandelderlymerchantsofhercircle，——shecouldtakeandgiveajest。Ifshedidnotmarryathirdtimeitwasnodoubtthefaultofthetimes。DuringthewarsoftheEmpire，marryingmenfoundrichandhandsomegirlstooeasilytotroublethemselvesaboutwomenofsixty。
　　MadameDescoings，alwaysanxioustocheerMadameBridau，oftentookthelattertothetheatre，ortodrive；preparedexcellentlittledinnersforherdelectation，andeventriedtomarryhertoherownsonbyherfirsthusband，Bixiou。Alas！todothis，shewasforcedtorevealaterriblesecret，carefullykeptbyher，byherlatehusband，andbyhernotary。TheyoungandbeautifulMadameDescoings，whopassedforthirty-sixyearsold，hadasonwhowasthirty-five，namedBixiou，alreadyawidower，amajorintheTwenty-FourthInfantry，whosubsequentlyperishedatLutzen，leavingbehindhimanonlyson。
　　MadameDescoings，whoonlysawhergrandsonsecretly，gaveoutthathewasthesonofthefirstwifeofherfirsthusband。Therevelationwaspartlyaprudentialact；forthisgrandsonwasbeingeducatedwithMadameBridau’ssonsattheImperialLyceum，wherehehadahalf-
　　scholarship。Thelad，whowascleverandshrewdatschool，soonaftermadehimselfagreatreputationasdraughtsmananddesigner，andalsoasawit。
　　Agathe，wholivedonlyforherchildren，declinedtore-marry，asmuchfromgoodsenseasfromfidelitytoherhusband。Butitiseasierforawomantobeagoodwifethantobeagoodmother。Awidowhastwotasksbeforeher，whosedutiesclash:sheisamother，andyetshemustexerciseparentalauthority。Fewwomenarefirmenoughtounderstandandpractisethisdoubleduty。ThusithappenedthatAgathe，notwithstandinghermanyvirtues，wastheinnocentcauseofgreatunhappiness。Inthefirstplace，throughherlackofintelligenceandtheblindconfidencetowhichsuchnoblenaturesareprone，AgathefellavictimtoMadameDescoings，whobroughtaterriblemisfortuneonthefamily。Thatworthysoulwasnursingupacombinationofthreenumberscalleda“trey“inalottery，andlotteriesgivenocredittotheircustomers。Asmanagerofthejointhousehold，shewasabletopayupherstakeswiththemoneyintendedfortheircurrentexpenses，andshewentdeeperanddeeperintodebt，withthehopeofultimatelyenrichinghergrandsonBixiou，herdearAgathe，andthelittleBridaus。Whenthedebtsamountedtotenthousandfrancs，sheincreasedherstakes，trustingthatherfavoritetrey，whichhadnotturnedupinnineyears，wouldcomeatlast，andfilltooverflowingtheabysmaldeficit。
　　Fromthatmomentthedebtrolleduprapidly。Whenitreachedtwentythousandfrancs，MadameDescoingslostherhead，stillfailingtowinthetrey。Shetriedtomortgageherownpropertytopayherniece，butRoguin，whowashernotary，showedhertheimpossibilityofcarryingoutthathonorableintention。ThelateDoctorRougethadlaidholdofthepropertyofthebrother-in-lawafterthegrocer’sexecution，andhad，asitwere，disinheritedMadameDescoingsbysecuringtoheralife-interestonthepropertyofhisownson，Jean-JacquesRouget。Nomoney-lenderwouldthinkofadvancingtwentythousandfrancstoawomansixty-sixyearsofage，onanannuityofaboutfourthousand，ataperiodwhentenpercentcouldeasilybegotforaninvestment。SoonemorningMadameDescoingsfellatthefeetofherniece，andwithsobsconfessedthestateofthings。MadameBridaudidnotreproachher；shesentawaythefootmanandcook，soldallbutthebarenecessitiesofherfurniture，soldalsothree-fourthsofhergovernmentfunds，paidoffthedebts，andbadefarewelltoherappartement。
　　OneoftheworstcornersinallParisisundoubtedlythatpartoftherueMazarinwhichliesbetweentherueGuenegardanditsjunctionwiththeruedeSeine，behindthepalaceoftheInstitute。ThehighgraywallsofthecollegeandofthelibrarywhichCardinalMazarinpresentedtothecityofParis，andwhichtheFrenchAcademywasinafterdaystoinhabit，castchillshadowsoverthisangleofthestreet，wherethesunseldomshines，andthenorthwindblows。Thepoorruinedwidowcametoliveonthethirdfloorofahousestandingatthisdamp，dark，coldcorner。Opposite，rosetheInstitutebuildings，inwhichwerethedensofferociousanimalsknowntothebourgeoisieunderthenameofartists，——underthatoftyro，orrapin，inthestudios。Intothesedenstheyenterrapins，buttheymaycomeforthprixdeRome。Thetransformationdoesnottakeplacewithoutextraordinaryuproaranddisturbanceatthetimeofyearwhentheexaminationsaregoingon，andthecompetitorsareshutupintheircells。Towinaprize，theywereobliged，withinagiventime，tomake，ifasculptor，aclaymodel；ifapainter，apicturesuchasmaybeseenattheEcoledesBeaux-Arts；ifamusician，acantata；ifanarchitect，theplansforapublicbuilding。Atthetimewhenwearepenningthewords，thismenageriehasalreadybeenremovedfromthesecoldandcheerlessbuildings，andtakentotheelegantPalaisdesBeaux-Arts，whichstandsnearby。
　　FromthewindowsofMadameBridau’snewabode，aglancecouldpenetratethedepthsofthosemelancholybarredcages。Tothenorth，theviewwasshutinbythedomeoftheInstitute；lookingupthestreet，theonlydistractiontotheeyewasafileofhackney-coaches，whichstoodattheupperendoftherueMazarin。Afterawhile，thewidowputboxesofearthinfrontofherwindows，andcultivatedthoseaerialgardensthatpoliceregulationsforbid，thoughtheirvegetableproductspurifytheatmosphere。Thehouse，whichbackedupagainstanotherfrontingontheruedeSeine，wasnecessarilyshallow，andthestaircasewoundrounduponitself。Thethirdfloorwasthelast。Threewindowstothreerooms，namely，adining-room，asmallsalon，andachamberononesideofthelanding；ontheother，alittlekitchen，andtwosinglerooms；above，animmensegarretwithoutpartitions。
　　MadameBridauchosethislodgingforthreereasons:economy，foritcostonlyfourhundredfrancsayear，sothatshetookaleaseofitfornineyears；proximitytohersons’school，theImperialLyceumbeingatashortdistance；thirdly，becauseitwasinthequartertowhichshewasused。
　　Theinsideoftheappartementwasinkeepingwiththegenerallookofthehouse。Thedining-room，hungwithayellowpapercoveredwithlittlegreenflowers，andflooredwithtilesthatwerenotglazed，containednothingthatwasnotstrictlynecessary，——namely，atable，twosideboards，andsixchairs，broughtfromtheotherappartement。
　　ThesalonwasadornedwithanAubussoncarpetgiventoBridauwhentheministryoftheinteriorwasrefurnished。TothefurnitureofthisroomthewidowaddedoneofthosecommonplacemahoganysofaswiththeEgyptianheadsthatJacobDesmaltermanufacturedbythegrossin1806，coveringthemwithasilkengreenstuffbearingadesignofwhitegeometriccircles。AbovethispieceoffurniturehungaportraitofBridau，doneinpastelbythehandofanamateur，whichatonceattractedtheeye。Thoughartmighthavesomethingtosayagainstit，noonecouldfailtorecognizethefirmnessofthenobleandobscurecitizenuponthatbrow。Theserenityoftheeyes，gentle，yetproud，waswellgiven；thesagaciousmind，towhichtheprudentlipsboretestimony，thefranksmile，theatmosphereofthemanofwhomtheEmperorhadsaid，“Justumettenacem，“hadallbeencaught，ifnotwithtalent，atleastwithfidelity。Studyingthatface，anobservercouldseethatthemanhaddonehisduty。HiscountenanceboresignsoftheincorruptibilitywhichweattributetoseveralmenwhoservedtheRepublic。Ontheoppositewall，overacard-table，flashedapictureoftheEmperorinbrilliantcolors，donebyVernet；Napoleonwasridingrapidly，attendedbyhisescort。
　　Agathehadbestoweduponherselftwolargebirdcages；onefilledwithcanaries，theotherwithJavasparrows。Shehadgivenherselfuptothisjuvenilefancysincethelossofherhusband，irreparabletoher，as，infact，itwastomanyothers。Bytheendofthreemonths，herwidowedchamberhadbecomewhatitwasdestinedtoremainuntiltheappointeddaywhensheleftitforever，——alitterofconfusionwhichwordsarepowerlesstodescribe。Catsweredomiciledonthesofa。Thecanaries，occasionallyletloose，lefttheircommasonthefurniture。
　　Thepoordearwomanscatteredlittleheapsofmilletandbitsofchickweedabouttheroom，andputtidbitsforthecatsinbrokensaucers。Garmentslayeverywhere。Theroombreathedoftheprovincesandofconstancy。EverythingthatoncebelongedtoBridauwasscrupulouslypreserved。Eventheimplementsinhisdeskreceivedthecarewhichthewidowofapaladinmighthavebestoweduponherhusband’sarmor。Oneslightdetailherewillservetobringthetenderdevotionofthiswomanbeforethereader’smind。Shehadwrappedupapenandsealedthepackage，onwhichshewrotethesewords，“Lastpenusedbymydearhusband。“Thecupfromwhichhedrankhislastdraughtwasonthefireplace；capsandfalsehairweretossed，atalaterperiod，overtheglassglobeswhichcoveredthesepreciousrelics。
　　AfterBridau’sdeathnotatraceofcoquetry，notevenawoman’sordinarycareofherperson，wasleftintheyoungwidowofthirty-
　　five。Partedfromtheonlymanshehadeverknown，esteemed，andloved，fromonewhohadnevercausedhertheslightestunhappiness，shewasnolongerconsciousofherwomanhood；allthingswereasnothingtoher；shenolongereventhoughtofherdress。Nothingwasevermoresimplydoneormorecompletethanthislayingdownofconjugalhappinessandpersonalcharm。Somehumanbeingsobtainthroughlovethepoweroftransferringtheirself——theirI——tothebeingofanother；andwhendeathtakesthatother，nolifeoftheirownispossibleforthem。
　　Agathe，whonowlivedonlyforherchildren，wasinfinitelysadatthethoughtoftheprivationsthisfinancialruinwouldbringuponthem。
　　FromthetimeofherremovaltotherueMazarinashadeofmelancholycameuponherface，whichmadeitverytouching。ShehopedalittleintheEmperor；buttheEmperoratthattimecoulddonomorethanhewasalreadydoing；hewasgivingthreehundredfrancsayeartoeachchildfromhisprivypurse，besidesthescholarships。
　　AsforthebrilliantDescoings，sheoccupiedanappartementonthesecondfloorsimilartothatofhernieceaboveher。ShehadmadeMadameBridauanassignmentofthreethousandfrancsoutofherannuity。Roguin，thenotary，attendedtothisinMadameBridau’sinterest；butitwouldtakesevenyearsofsuchslowrepaymenttomakegoodtheloss。TheDescoings，thusreducedtoanincomeoftwelvehundredfrancs，livedwithhernieceinasmallway。Theseexcellentbuttimidcreaturesemployedawoman-of-all-workforthemorninghoursonly。MadameDescoings，wholikedtocook，preparedthedinner。Intheeveningsafewoldfriends，personsemployedattheministrywhoowedtheirplacestoBridau，cameforagameofcardswiththetwowidows。
　　MadameDescoingsstillcherishedhertrey，whichshedeclaredwasobstinateaboutturningup。Sheexpected，byonegrandstroke，torepaytheenforcedloanshehadmadeuponherniece。ShewasfonderofthelittleBridausthanshewasofhergrandsonBixiou，——partlyfromasenseofthewrongshehaddonethem，partlybecauseshefeltthekindnessofherniece，who，underherworstdeprivations，neverutteredawordofreproach。SoPhilippeandJosephwerecossetted，andtheoldgamblerintheImperialLotteryofFrancelikeotherswhohaveaviceoraweaknesstoatoneforcookedthemnicelittledinnerswithplentyofsweets。Lateron，PhilippeandJosephcouldextractfromherpocket，withtheutmostfacility，smallsumsofmoney，whichtheyoungerusedforpencils，paper，charcoalandprints，theeldertobuytennis-shoes，marbles，twine，andpocket-knives。