g with the priests, drinking holy water, and eating
blessed bread. Oh, he is almost a saint in the strictness of his life;
but, then, his heart is as hard as iron, and as stern and rigid towards
others as he is severe towards himself. Why, poor Louise, daughter to
our sick lodger, has been his only servant for the last eighteen months.
And what a good girl she is! Gentle as a lamb in temper and disposition,
but willing as a horse to work; and he only gives this poor thing, who
slaves herself to death for him, eighteen francs a month,--not a
farthing more, I give you my word; and out of this she only keeps back
six francs for her own maintenance, and hands over the other twelve to
her starving family; that has been all their dependence for some time
past; but when seven persons have to live upon it, it does not go far."

"But what does the father earn,--I mean, provided he is industrious?"

"Industrious! God bless you, he has always overworked himself; he is the
soberest, steadiest creature alive; and I verily believe that if he had
the promise of obtaining any favour he liked to ask of Heaven, it would
be that the day might be made doubly as long as it now is, that he might
earn bread enough to stop the cries of his starving brats."

"Then the father cannot earn enough if he were to try ever so hard, it
seems?"

"Why, the poor man was ill abed for three months, and that threw them
all behind; his wife's health was quite ruined by the fatigue of nursing
him and the severe want she experienced of common necessaries for
herself and family. She now lies in a dying state; they have had nothing
for all that period besides Louise's wages and what they could obtain
from Mother Burette upon the few wretched articles they could dispose
of. True, the master for whom Morel had worked advanced them a trifle,
out of respect for a man he had always found punctual and honest when he
could work. But, la! Eight people only to be found in bread, that is
what I say,--just imagine how hard it must be to keep life and soul
together upon such small means; and if you could only see the hole they
are all huddled together in--But do not let us talk any more about that,
monsieur, for our dinner is ready, and the very thought of their
wretched garret turns my stomach. However, happily, M. Bras Rouge is
going to clear the house of them,--when I say happily, I don't mean it
ill-naturedly in the least; but since these poor Morels have fallen
into