He was supposed to work far into the night.

Often in winter his lamp was not extinguished before dawn.
Mother and son absolutely lived for one another, as all who knew them took pleasure in repeating.

They loved and honoured Noel for the care he bestowed upon his mother, for his more than filial devotion, for the sacrifices which all supposed he made in living at his age like an old man.
The neighbours were in the habit of contrasting the conduct of this exemplary young man with that of M.Tabaret, the incorrigible old rake, the hairless dangler.
As for Madame Gerdy, she saw nothing but her son in all the world.

Her love had actually taken the form of worship.

In Noel she believed she saw united all the physical and moral perfections.