She no longer inquires.  The pretty Maria is cross and melancholy, for now they talk only of one thing at the Gerards; it is always the same, the vulgar and cruel thought, obtaining the means to live; and within a short time they have descended a few steps lower on the slippery ladder of poverty.  It is not possible to earn enough to feed three mouths with a piano method and a box of pastels—­or, at least, it does not hold out.  Louise has fewer pupils, and Pere Issacar has lessened his orders.  Mamma Gerard, who has become almost an old woman, redoubles her efforts; but they can no longer make both ends meet.  Amedee sees it, and how it makes him suffer!

The poor women are proud, and complain as little as possible; but the decay inside this house, already so modest, is manifested in many ways.  Two beautiful engravings, the last of their father’s souvenirs, had been sold in an hour of extreme want; and one could see, by the clean spots upon the wall, where the frames once hung.  Madame Gerard’s and her daughters’ mourning seemed to grow rusty, and at the Sunday dinner Amedee now brings, instead of a cake, a pastry pie, which sometimes constitutes the entire meal.  There is only one bottle of old wine in the cellar, and they drink wine by the pot from the grocer’s.  Each new detail that proves his friends’ distress troubles the sensitive Amedee.  Once, having earned ten Louis from some literary work, he took the poor mother aside and forced her to accept one hundred francs.  The unfortunate woman, trembling with emotion, while two large tears rolled down her cheeks, admitted that the night before, in order to pay the washerwoman, they had pawned the only clock in the house.

What can he do to assist them, to help them to lead a less terrible life?  Ah! if Maria would have it so, they could be married at once, without any other expense than the white dress, as other poor people do; and they would all live together.  He has his salary of twenty-four hundred francs, besides a thousand francs that he has earned in other ways.  With Louise’s lessons this little income would be almost sufficient.  Then he would exert himself to sell his writings; he would work hard, and they could manage.  Of course it would be quite an undertaking on his part to take all this family under his charge.  Children might be born to them.  Had he not begun to gain a reputation; had he not a future before him?  His piece might be played and meet with success.  This would be their salvation.  Oh! the happy life that the four would lead together!  Yes, if Maria could love him a little, if he persisted in hoping, if she had the courage, it was the only step to take.

Becoming enthusiastic upon this subject, Amedee decided to submit the question to the excellent Louise, in whom he had perfect confidence, and considered to be goodness and truth personified.  Every Thursday, at six o’clock, she left a boarding-school in the Rue de la Rochechouart, where she gave lessons to young ladies in singing.  He would go and wait for her as she came out that very evening.  And there he met her.  Poor Louise! her dress was lamentable; and what a sad countenance!  What a tired, distressed look!