But she found a well-appointed house, a deep-bosomed, broad-beamed concierge, who looked as if she might be the mother of twenty helpful Zouaves, and an equally matronly and kindly-faced sister, a Madame Bolivard, the aunt aforesaid who could cook.
Thus, as the ravens fed Elijah, so did Zouaves and other casual fowl aid Septimus on his way.

Madame Bolivard in particular took them both under her ample wing, to the girl's unspeakable comfort.

A _brav' femme_, Madame Bolivard, who not only could cook, but could darn stockings and mend linen, which Emmy's frivolous fingers had never learned to accomplish.

She could also prescribe miraculous _tisanes_ for trivial ailments, could tell the cards, and could converse volubly on any subject under heaven; the less she knew about it, the more she had to say, which is a great gift.

It spared the girl many desolate and despairing hours.
It was a lonely, monotonous life.