But our children, Claes, our children! what will become of them if you do not soon discover this hellish thing?
Do you know why Pierquin came to-day?
He came for thirty thousand francs, which you owe and cannot pay.

I told him that you had the money, so that I might spare you the mortification of his questions; but to get it I must sell our family silver." She saw her husband's eyes grow moist, and she flung herself despairingly at his feet, raising up to him her supplicating hands.
"My friend," she cried, "refrain awhile from these researches; let us economize, let us save the money that may enable you to take them up hereafter,--if, indeed, you cannot renounce this work.

Oh! I do not condemn it; I will heat your furnaces if you ask it; but I implore you, do not reduce our children to beggary.

Perhaps you cannot love them, Science may have consumed your heart; but oh! do not bequeath them a wretched life in place of the happiness you owe them.

Motherhood has sometimes been too weak a power in my heart; yes, I have sometimes wished I were not a mother, that I might be closer to your soul, your life! And now, to stifle my remorse, must I plead the cause of my children before you, and not my own ?" Her hair fell loose and floated over her shoulders, her eyes shot forth her feelings as though they had been arrows.