Besides,
he knew that his wife's only idea of happiness, like his own, was to live
there in very simple fashion, leading a brave life of health,
peacefulness, and love. But while he did not desire the power procured by
a high position and the enjoyment offered by a large fortune, he could
not help asking himself how he was to provide, were it ever so modestly,
for his increasing family. What would he be able to do, should he have
other children; how would he procure the necessaries of life each time
that a fresh birth might impose fresh requirements upon him? One situated
as he was must create resources, draw food from the earth step by step,
each time a little mouth opened and cried its hunger aloud. Otherwise he
would be guilty of criminal improvidence. And such reflections as these
came upon him the more strongly as his penury had increased since the
birth of Gervais--to such a point, indeed, that Marianne, despite
prodigies of economy, no longer knew how to make her money last her till
the end of the month. The slightest expenditure had to be debated; the
very butter had to be spread thinly on the children's bread; and they had
to continue wearing their blouses till they were well-nigh threadbare.
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