Theoldwomandiedonthe31stofDecember，fivedaysaftertheterribleblowwhicholdDesrocheshadsoinnocentlygivenher。Thefivehundredfrancs——theonlymoneyinthehousehold——werebarelyenoughtopayforherfuneral。Sheleftasmallamountofsilverandsomefurniture，thevalueofwhichMadameBixioupaidovertohergrandsonBixiou。Reducedtoeighthundredfrancs’annuitypaidtoherbyyoungDesroches，whohadboughtabusinesswithoutclients，andhimselftookthecapitaloftwelvethousandfrancs，Agathegaveupherappartementonthethirdfloor，andsoldallhersuperfluousfurniture。When，attheendofamonth，Philippeseemedtobeconvalescent，hismothercoldlyexplainedtohimthatthecostsofhisillnesshadtakenallherreadymoney，thatsheshouldbeobligedinfuturetoworkforherliving，andsheurgedhim，withtheutmostkindness，tore-enterthearmyandsupporthimself。
“Youmighthavesparedmethatsermon，“saidPhilippe，lookingathismotherwithaneyethatwascoldfromutterindifference。“Ihaveseenallalongthatneitheryounormybrotherloveme。Iamaloneintheworld；Ilikeitbest！“
“Makeyourselfworthyofouraffection，“answeredthepoormother，strucktotheveryheart，“andwewillgiveitbacktoyou——“
“Nonsense！“hecried，interruptingher。
Hetookhisoldhat，rubbedwhiteattheedges，stuckitoveroneear，andwentdownstairs，whistling。