Also, they detested the Hotel Boncoeur as they didn't like the other occupants.
Their dream was to have a home of their own with their own furniture.
They were always figuring how much they would need and decided three hundred and fifty francs at least, in order to be able to buy little items that came up later.
They were in despair at ever being able to collect such a large sum when a lucky chance came their way.

An old gentleman at Plassans offered to take the older boy, Claude, and send him to an academy down there.

The old man, who loved art, had previously been much impressed by Claude's sketches.

Claude had already begun to cost them quite a bit.

Now, with only Etienne to support, they were able to accumulate the money in a little over seven months.