Joseph，whowasnowtwenty-one，andmuchthoughtofbythefriendswhohadstoodbyhiminhisdaysoftrial，felthisownstrengthandwasawareofhistalent；herepresentedtheartofpaintinginacircleofyoungmenwhoselivesweredevotedtoscience，letters，politics，andphilosophy。Consequently，hewaswoundedbyhisbrother’scontempt，whichPhilippestillfurtheremphasizedwithagesture，pullinghisearsasifhewerestillachild。AgathenoticedthecoolnesswhichsucceededthefirstglowoftendernessonthepartofJosephandMadameDescoings；butshehastenedtotellthemofPhilippe’ssufferingsinexile，andsolessenedit。MadameDescoings，wishingtomakeafestivalofthereturnoftheprodigal，asshecalledhimunderherbreath，hadpreparedoneofhergooddinners，towhicholdClaparonandtheelderDesrocheswereinvited。Allthefamilyfriendsweretocome，anddidcome，intheevening。JosephhadinvitedLeonGiraud，d’Arthez，MichelChrestien，FulgenceRidal，andHoraceBianchon，hisfriendsofthefraternity。MadameDescoingshadpromisedBixiou，herso-calledstep-son，thattheyoungpeopleshouldplayatecarte。Desrochestheyounger，whohadnowtaken，underhisfather’ssternrule，hisdegreeatlaw，wasalsooftheparty。DuBruel，Claparon，Desroches，andtheAbbeLorauxcarefullyobservedthereturnedexile，whosemannersandcoarsefeatures，andvoiceroughenedbytheabuseofliquors，togetherwithhisvulgarglanceandphraseology，alarmedthemnotalittle。WhileJosephwasplacingthecard-tables，themoreintimateofthefamilyfriendssurroundedAgatheandasked，——
“WhatdoyouintendtomakeofPhilippe？“
“Idon’tknow，“sheanswered，“butheisdeterminednottoservetheBourbons。“
“ThenitwillbeverydifficultforyoutofindhimaplaceinFrance。
Ifhewon’tre-enterthearmy，hecan’tbereadilygotintogovernmentemploy，“saidoldDuBruel。“Andyouhaveonlytolistentohimtoseehecouldnever，likemyson，makehisfortunebywritingplays。“