She left a small amount of silver and some furniture, the value of which Madame Bixiou paid over to her grandson Bixiou.

Reduced to eight hundred francs' annuity paid to her by young Desroches, who had bought a business without clients, and himself took the capital of twelve thousand francs, Agathe gave up her _appartement_ on the third floor, and sold all her superfluous furniture.

When, at the end of a month, Philippe seemed to be convalescent, his mother coldly explained to him that the costs of his illness had taken all her ready money, that she should be obliged in future to work for her living, and she urged him, with the utmost kindness, to re-enter the army and support himself.
"You might have spared me that sermon," said Philippe, looking at his mother with an eye that was cold from utter indifference.

"I have seen all along that neither you nor my brother love me.

I am alone in the world; I like it best!" "Make yourself worthy of our affection," answered the poor mother, struck to the very heart, "and we will give it back to you--" "Nonsense!" he cried, interrupting her.
He took his old hat, rubbed white at the edges, stuck it over one ear, and went downstairs, whistling.
"Philippe! where are you going without any money ?" cried his mother, who could not repress her tears.