And in the same way as she had devoted herself to her husband and daughter, and then to Guillaume, so did she now devote herself to the three children.

She became "Mere-Grand"-- an emphatic and affectionate way of expressing the term "grandmother"-- for all who lived in the house, the older as well as the younger ones.

She there personified sense, and wisdom, and courage; it was she who was ever on the watch, who directed everything, who was consulted about everything, and whose opinion was always followed.

Indeed, she reigned there like an all-powerful queen-mother.
For fifteen years this life went on, a life of hard work and peaceful affection, while the strictest economy was observed in contenting every need of the modest little household.

Then Guillaume lost his mother, took his share of the family inheritance, and was able to satisfy his old desire, which was to buy the house he lived in, and build a spacious workshop in the garden.