"His father would not accept anything from him."
"Why?"
"That is a question to which I cannot reply, my dear child; but I have heard it said by my poor brother that this young man was reputed vastly generous. Young and generous, he ought to be good. Learning from me that my husband had been his father's intimate friend, perhaps he will interest himself in trying to find us work or employment. He has such high and extensive connections, that this would be no trouble to him."
"And then, perhaps, too, we could learn from him if M. de Saint-Remy, his father, had not quitted Angers before you wrote to him: that would account for his silence."
"I think, my dear, that M. de Saint-Remy has not kept up any connection with—Still, we cannot but try."
"Unless M. d'Orbigny replies to you favourably, and I repeat, I don't know why, but I have hopes, in spite of myself."
"It is now many days, my dear, since I wrote to him, telling him all the causes of our misfortunes, and yet to this time we have no reply,—none. A letter put in the post before four o'clock in the evening reaches Aubiers next morning, and thus we might have had his answer five days ago."
"Perhaps, before he replies, he is considering in what way he can best be useful to us."
"May Heaven hear thee, my child!"
"It appears to me plain enough, mamma, if he could not do anything for us, he could have written at once, and said so."