"Your life in Douai, in this house, during the coming years of privation and sacrifice would be intolerable to you.

Our father must be placed in a situation at least equal to that in which he has always lived.

I ask nothing from the salary you will receive from this appointment; employ it as you see fit.

I will only beg you to remember that we have not a penny of income, and that we must live on what Gabriel can give us out of his.

The town shall know nothing of our inner life.