Madame Aubain had married a comelyyouth mthout any money who died in the beginning of 1809 leaving her with twoyoung children and a number ofdebts. She sold ali her property excepting the farm ofToucques and the farm ofGeffosses the income ofwhich barely amounted to 5000 francs; then she left her house in Saint-Melaine and moved into a less pretentious one which had belonged to her ancestors and stood back of the market-place. This house vjith its slate-covered roof was built between a passage-way and a narrow street that led to the river. The interior was so unevenly graded that it caused people to stumble