[54] 33-34. marchait cahin-caha, à la comme-je-te-pousse: got on any which way, just as luck would have it.
[55] 8. passif: a mercantile term,—liabilities. The assets of a concern are its actif.
[55] 12. sur le pavé: on the street, without work.
[55] 13. à tout jamais: forever.
[55] 17-18. qu'il n'attentât à ses jours: lest he might commit suicide.
[56] 4. fils d'acier et de laiton: steel and brass wire. Fil is wire, thread; le fils is the son.
[56] 22. un tronc: a charity box.
[56] 25. pancartes: notices, inscriptions.
[56] 34. dentellière de son état: a lace worker by trade.
[57] 3. au cliquetis de ses fuseaux: by the clicking of her embroidery needles.