By selling the furniture and realising every little thing she possessed, she scraped together an income of about two thousand francs a year, with which she was able to send her son to college and live decently herself.

But a fresh blow fell on her: she lost the greater part of her little fortune, which was invested in doubtful securities.

So now her income amounts at the utmost to eight hundred francs; two hundred of which she has to expend in rent.
For all her other wants she has to be content with fifty francs a month.
About eighteen months ago her son left her so as not to be a burden on her, and he is trying to earn his living somewhere, but without success, I believe." Madame Mathis, a short, dark woman, with a sad, gentle, retiring face, came in.

Invariably clad in the same black gown, she showed all the anxious timidity of a poor creature whom the storms of life perpetually assailed.

When Abbe Rose had handed her the ten francs discreetly wrapped in paper, she blushed and thanked him, promising to pay him back as soon as she received her month's money, for she was not a beggar and did not wish to encroach on the share of those who starved.
"And your son, Victor, has he found any employment ?" asked the old priest.
She hesitated, ignorant as she was of what her son might be doing, for now she did not see him for weeks together.