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endure our lot； but let us bear it patiently； leave me to solve the
problem of which I told you； and all our troubles will be at an end。〃
David was so good； his devotion was so thoroughly to be taken upon his
word； that the poor wife； with a wife's anxiety as to daily expenses；
determined to spare her husband the household cares and to take the
burden upon herself。 So she came down from the pretty blue…and…white
room； where she sewed and talked contentedly with her mother； took
possession of one of the two dens at the back of the printing…room；
and set herself to learn the business routine of typography。 Was it
not heroism in a wife who expected ere long to be a mother？
During the past few months David's workmen had left him one by one；
there was not enough work for them to do。 Cointet Brothers； on the
other hand； were overwhelmed with orders； they were employing all the
workmen of the department； the alluring prospect of high wages even
brought them a few from Bordeaux； more especially apprentices； who
thought themselves sufficiently expert to cancel their articles and go
elsewhere。 When Eve came to look into the affairs of Sechard's
printing works； she discovered that he employed three persons in all。
First in order stood Cerizet； an apprentice of Didot's； whom David had
chosen to train。 Most foremen have some one favorite among the great
numbers of workers under them； and David had brought Cerizet to
Angouleme； where he had been learning more of the business。 Marion； as
much attached to the house as a watch…dog； was the second； and the
third was Kolb； an Alsacien； at one time a porter in the employ of the
Messrs。 Didot。 Kolb had been drawn for military service； chance
brought him to Angouleme； and David recognized the man's face at a
review just as his time was about to expire。 Kolb came to see David；
and was smitten forthwith by the charms of the portly Marion； she
possessed all the qualities which a man of his class looks for in a
wifethe robust health that bronzes the cheeks； the strength of a man
（Marion could lift a form of type with ease）； the scrupulous honesty
on which an Alsacien sets such store； the faithful service which
bespeaks a sterling character； and finally； the thrift which had saved
a little sum of a thousand francs； besides a stock of clothing and
linen； neat and clean； as country linen can be。 Marion herself； a big；
stout woman of thirty…six； felt sufficiently flattered by the
admiration of a cuirassier； who stood five feet seven in his
stockings； a well…built warrior； strong as a bastion； and not
unnaturally suggested that he should become a printer。 So； by the time
Kolb received his full discharge； Marion and David between them had
transformed him into a tolerably creditable 〃bear；〃 though their pupil
could neither read nor write。
Job printing； as it is called； was not so abundant at this season but
that Cerizet could manage it without help。 Cerizet； compositor；
clicker； and foreman； realized in his person the 〃phenomenal
triplicity〃 of Kant； he set up type； read proof； took orders； and made
out invoices； but the most part of the time he had nothing to do； and
used to read novels in his den at the back of the workshop while he
waited for an order for a bill…head or a trade circular。 Marion；
trained by old Sechard； prepared and wetted down the paper； helped
Kolb with the printing； hung the sheets to dry； and cut them to size；
yet cooked the dinner； none the less； and did her marketing very early
of a morning。
Eve told Cerizet to draw out a balance…sheet for the last six months；
and found that the gross receipts amounted to eight hundred francs。 On
the other hand； wages at the rate of three francs per daytwo francs
to Cerizet； and one to Kolbreached a total of six hundred francs；
and as the goods supplied for the work printed and delivered amounted
to some hundred odd francs； it was clear to Eve that David had been
carrying on business at a loss during the first half…year of their
married life。 There was nothing to show for rent； nothing for Marion's
wages； nor for the interest on capital represented by the plant； the
license； and the ink； nothing； finally； by way of allowance for the
host of things included in the technical expression 〃wear and tear；〃 a
word which owes its origin to the cloths and silks which are used to
moderate the force of the impression； and to save wear to the type； a
square of stuff （the blanket） being placed between the platen and the
sheet of paper in the press。
Eve made a rough calculation of the resources of the printing office
and of the output； and saw how little hope there was for a business
drained dry by the all…devouring activity of the brothers Cointet； for
by this time the Cointets were not only contract printers to the town
and the prefecture； and printers to the Diocese by special appointment
they were paper…makers and proprietors of a newspaper to boot。 That
newspaper； sold two years ago by the Sechards； father and son； for
twenty…two thousand francs； was now bringing in eighteen thousand
francs per annum。 Eve began to understand the motives lurking beneath
the apparent generosity of the brothers Cointet； they were leaving the
Sechard establishment just sufficient work to gain a pittance； but not
enough to establish a rival house。
When Eve took the management of the business； she began by taking
stock。 She set Kolb and Marion and Cerizet to work； and the workshop
was put to rights； cleaned out； and set in order。 Then one evening
when David came in from a country excursion； followed by an old woman
with a huge bundle tied up in a cloth； Eve asked counsel of him as to
the best way of turning to profit the odds and ends left them by old
Sechard； promising that she herself would look after the business。
Acting upon her husband's advice； Mme。 Sechard sorted all the remnants
of paper which she found； and printed old popular legends in double
columns upon a single sheet； such as peasants paste on their walls；
the histories of The Wandering Jew； Robert the Devil； La Belle
Maguelonne and sundry miracles。 Eve sent Kolb out as a hawker。
Cerizet had not a moment to spare now； he was composing the naive
pages； with the rough cuts that adorned them； from morning to night；
Marion was able to manage the taking off； and all domestic cares fell
to Mme。 Chardon； for Eve was busy coloring the prints。 Thanks to
Kolb's activity and honesty； Eve sold three thousand broad sheets at a
penny apiece； and made three hundred francs in all at a cost of thirty
francs。
But when every peasant's hut and every little wine…shop for twenty
leagues round was papered with these legends； a fresh speculation must
be discovered； the Alsacien could not go beyond the limits of the
department。 Eve； turning over everything in the whole printing house；
had found a collection of figures for printing a 〃Shepherd's
Calendar；〃 a kind of almanac meant for those who cannot read；
letterpress being replaced by symbols； signs； and pictures in colored
inks； red； black and blue。 Old Sechard； who could neither read nor
write himself； had made a good deal of money at one time by bringing
out an almanac i