“Well，comeherejustasmuchasyoulike；we’llamuseyou。Givehimaboard，andpaper，andchalks，andlethimalone。Youaretoknow，youyoungscamps，thathisfatherdidmeaservice。Here，Corde-a-puits，goandgetsomecakesandsugar-plums，“hesaidtothepupilwhohadtorturedJoseph，givinghimsomesmallchange。“We’llseeifyouaretobeartistbythewayyougobbleupthedainties，“addedthesculptor，chuckingJosephunderthechin。
Thenhewentroundexaminingthepupils’works，followedbythechild，wholookedandlistened，andtriedtounderstandhim。Thesweetswerebrought，Chaudet，himself，thechild，andthewholestudioallhadtheirteethinthem；andJosephwaspettedquiteasmuchashehadbeenteased。Thewholescene，inwhichtheroughplayandrealheartofartistswererevealed，andwhichtheboyinstinctivelyunderstood，madeagreatimpressiononhismind。Theapparitionofthesculptor，——
forwhomtheEmperor’sprotectionopenedawaytofutureglory，closedsoonafterbyhisprematuredeath，——waslikeavisiontolittleJoseph。Thechildsaidnothingtohismotheraboutthisadventure，buthespenttwohourseverySundayandeveryThursdayinChaudet’satelier。Fromthattimeforth，MadameDescoings，whohumoredthefanciesofthetwocherubim，keptJosephsuppliedwithpencilsandredchalks，printsanddrawing-paper。Atschool，thefuturecoloristsketchedhismasters，drewhiscomrades，charcoaledthedormitories，andshowedsurprisingassiduityinthedrawing-class。Lemire，thedrawing-master，strucknotonlywiththelad’sinclinationbutalsowithhisactualprogress，cametotellMadameBridauofherson’sfaculty。Agathe，likeatrueprovincial，whoknowsaslittleofartassheknowsmuchofhousekeeping，wasterrified。WhenLemirelefther，sheburstintotears。
“Ah！“shecried，whenMadameDescoingswenttoaskwhatwasthematter。“Whatistobecomeofme！Joseph，whomImeanttomakeagovernmentclerk，whosecareerwasallmarkedoutforhimattheministryoftheinterior，where，protectedbyhisfather’smemory，hemighthaverisentobechiefofadivisionbeforehewastwenty-five，he，myboy，hewantstobeapainter，——avagabond！Ialwaysknewthatchildwouldgivemenothingbuttrouble。“
MadameDescoingsconfessedthatforseveralmonthspastshehadencouragedJoseph’spassion，aidingandabettinghisSundayandThursdayvisitstotheInstitute。AttheSalon，towhichshehadtakenhim，thelittlefellowhadshownaninterestinthepictures，whichwas，shedeclared，nothingshortofmiraculous。
“Ifheunderstandspaintingatthirteen，mydear，“shesaid，“yourJosephwillbeamanofgenius。“
“Yes；andseewhatgeniusdidforhisfather，——killedhimwithoverworkatforty！“
Atthecloseofautumn，justasJosephwasenteringhisfourteenthyear，Agathe，contrarytoMadameDescoings’sentreaties，wenttoseeChaudet，andrequestedthathewouldceasetodebauchherson。Shefoundthesculptorinabluesmock，modellinghislaststatue；hereceivedthewidowofthemanwhoformerlyhadservedhimatacriticalmoment，ratherroughly；but，alreadyatdeath’sdoor，hewasstrugglingwithpassionateardortodoinafewhoursworkhecouldhardlyhaveaccomplishedinseveralmonths。AsMadameBridauentered，hehadjustfoundaneffectlongsoughtfor，andwashandlinghistoolsandclaywithspasmodicjerksandmovementsthatseemedtotheignorantAgathelikethoseofamaniac。AtanyothertimeChaudetwouldhavelaughed；butnow，asheheardthemotherbewailingthedestinyhehadopenedtoherchild，abusingart，andinsistingthatJosephshouldnolongerbeallowedtoentertheatelier，heburstintoaholywrath。
“Iwasunderobligationstoyourdeceasedhusband，Iwishedtohelphisson，towatchhisfirststepsinthenoblestofallcareers，“hecried。“Yes，madame，learn，ifyoudonotknowit，thatagreatartistisaking，andmorethanaking；heishappier，heisindependent，helivesashelikes，hereignsintheworldoffancy。Yoursonhasagloriousfuturebeforehim。Facultieslikehisarerare；theyareonlydisclosedathisageinsuchbeingsastheGiottos，Raphaels，Titians，Rubens，Murillos，——for，inmyopinion，hewillmakeabetterpainterthansculptor。Godofheaven！ifIhadsuchason，IshouldbeashappyastheEmperoristohavegivenhimselftheKingofRome。Well，youaremistressofyourchild’sfate。Goyourownway，madame；makehimafool，amiserablequill-driver，tiehimtoadesk，andyou’vemurderedhim！ButIhope，inspiteifallyourefforts，thathewillstayanartist。Atruevocationisstrongerthanalltheobstaclesthatcanbeopposedtoit。Vocation！whytheverywordmeansacall；
ay，theelectionofGodhimself！Youwillmakeyourchildunhappy，that’sall。“Heflungtheclayhenolongerneededviolentlyintoatub，andsaidtohismodel，“Thatwilldoforto-day。“
Agatheraisedhereyesandsaw，inacorneroftheatelierwhereherglancehadnotbeforepenetrated，anudewomansittingonastool，thesightofwhomdroveherawayhorrified。
“YouarenottohavethelittleBridauhereanymore，“saidChaudettohispupils，“itannoyshismother。“
“Eugh！“theyallcried，asAgatheclosedthedoor。
NosoonerdidthestudentsofsculptureandpaintingfindoutthatMadameBridaudidnotwishhersontobeanartist，thantheirwholehappinesscentredongettingJosephamongthem。InspiteofapromisenottogototheInstitutewhichhismotherexactedfromhim，thechildoftenslippedintoRegnauldthepainter’sstudio，wherehewasencouragedtodaubcanvas。Whenthewidowcomplainedthatthebargainwasnotkept，Chaudet’spupilsassuredherthatRegnauldwasnotChaudet，andtheyhadn’tthebringingupofherson，withotherimpertinences；andtheatrociousyoungscampscomposedasongwithahundredandthirty-sevencoupletsonMadameBridau。
OntheeveningofthatsaddayAgatherefusedtoplayatcards，andsatonhersofaplungedinsuchgriefthatthetearsstoodinherhandsomeeyes。
“Whatisthematter，MadameBridau？“askedoldClaparon。
“Shethinksherboywillhavetobeghisbreadbecausehehasgotthebumpofpainting，“saidMadameDescoings；“but，formypart，Iamnottheleastuneasyaboutthefutureofmystep-son，littleBixiou，whohasapassionfordrawing。Menareborntogeton。“
“Youareright，“saidthehardandsevereDesroches，who，inspiteofhistalents，hadneverhimselfgotoninthepositionofassistant-
headofadepartment。“HappilyIhaveonlyoneson；otherwise，withmyeighteenhundredfrancsayear，andawifewhomakesbarelytwelvehundredoutofherstamped-paperoffice，Idon’tknowwhatwouldbecomeofme。Ihavejustplacedmyboyasunder-clerktoalawyer；hegetstwenty-fivefrancsamonthandhisbreakfast。Igivehimasmuchmore，andhedinesandsleepsathome。That’sallhegets；hemustmanageforhimself，buthe’llmakehisway。Ikeepthefellowharderatworkthanifhewereatschool，andsomedayhewillbeabarrister。WhenIgivehimmoneytogotothetheatre，heisashappyasakingandkissesme。Oh，Ikeepatighthandonhim，andherendersmeanaccountofallhespends。Youaretoogoodtoyourchildren，MadameBridau；ifyoursonwantstogothroughhardshipsandprivations，lethim；they’llmakeamanofhim。“
“Asformyboy，“saidDuBruel，aformerchiefofadivision，whohadjustretiredonapension，“heisonlysixteen；hismotherdotesonhim；butIshouldn’tlistentohischoosingaprofessionathisage，——
amerefancy，anotionthatmaypassoff。Inmyopinion，boysshouldbeguidedandcontrolled。“
“Ah，monsieur！youarerich，youareaman，andyouhavebutoneson，“
saidAgathe。
“Faith！“saidClaparon，“childrendotyrannizeoverus——overourhearts，Imean。Minemakesmefurious；hehasnearlyruinedme，andnowIwon’thaveanythingtodowithhim——it’sasortofindependence。
Well，heisthehappierforit，andsoamI。Thatfellowwaspartlythecauseofhismother’sdeath。Hechosetobeacommercialtraveller；andthetradejustsuitedhim，forhewasnosoonerinthehousethanhewantedtobeoutofit；hecouldn’tkeepinoneplace，andhewouldn’tlearnanything。AllIaskofGodisthatImaydiebeforehedishonorsmyname。Thosewhohavenochildrenlosemanypleasures，buttheyescapegreatsufferings。“
“Andthesemenarefathers！“thoughtAgathe，weepinganew。
“WhatIamtryingtoshowyou，mydearMadameBridau，isthatyouhadbetterletyourboybeapainter；ifnot，youwillonlywasteyourtime。“
“Ifyouwereabletocoercehim，“saidthesourDesroches，“Ishouldadviseyoutoopposehistastes；butweakasIseeyouare，youhadbetterlethimdaubifhelikes。“
“Consoleyourself，Agathe，“saidMadameDescoings，“Josephwillturnoutagreatman。“
Afterthisdiscussion，whichwaslikealldiscussions，thewidow’sfriendsunitedingivingheroneandthesameadvice；whichadvicedidnotintheleastrelieveheranxieties。TheyadvisedhertoletJosephfollowhisbent。
“Ifhedoesn’tturnoutagenius，“saidDuBruel，whoalwaystriedtopleaseAgathe，“youcanthengethimintosomegovernmentoffice。“
WhenMadameDescoingsaccompaniedtheoldclerkstothedoorsheassuredthem，attheheadofthestairs，thattheywere“Greciansages。“
“MadameBridauoughttobegladhersoniswillingtodoanything，“
saidClaparon。
“Besides，“saidDesroches，“ifGodpreservestheEmperor，Josephwillalwaysbelookedafter。Whyshouldsheworry？“
“Sheistimidabouteverythingthatconcernsherchildren，“answeredMadameDescoings。“Well，mygoodgirl，“shesaid，returningtoAgathe，“youseetheyareunanimous；whyareyoustillcrying？“
“IfitwasPhilippe，Ishouldhavenoanxiety。Butyoudon’tknowwhatgoesoninthatatelier；theyhavenakedwomen！“
“Ihopetheykeepgoodfires，“saidMadameDescoings。
Afewdaysafterthis，thedisastersoftheretreatfromMoscowbecameknown。NapoleonreturnedtoParistoorganizefreshtroops，andtoaskfurthersacrificesfromthecountry。Thepoormotherwasthenplungedintoverydifferentanxieties。Philippe，whowastiredofschool，wantedtoserveundertheEmperor；hesawareviewattheTuileries，