Zola, who by this time had married, then turned his attention to aproposal to supply water to the town

of Aix, in Provence, by means of a reservoir and canal. He removedthither with his wife and child, and
after many delays and disappointments ultimately signed an agreement forthe construction of the
works. Even then further delays took place, and it was not till three years later that thework could be
commenced. But the engineer's ill fortune still attended him, for one morning while he
wassuperintending his workmen the treacherous mistral began to blow, and he took a chill, from the
effects of which he died a few days afterwards.The young widow, with her son Emile, then a child of
seven, was left in poor circumstances, her only fortunebeing a claim against the municipality of Aix.
Fortunately her parents had some means, and came to herassistance during the years of fruitless
struggle to establish the rights of her dead husband. Emile had up tothis time been allowed to run wild,
and he had spent most of his time out of doors, where he acquired a love of the country which he
retained in later years. Even when he was sent to school he was backward, only learninghis letters with
difficulty and showing little inclination for study. It was not till 1852, when he was twelveyears sold, that
his education really began. By this time he was able to realize his mother's financial position,and to see
the sacrifices which were being made to send him as a boarder to the

lycee

at Aix. His progressthen became rapid, and during the next five years he gained many prizes.
Throughout all these years thestruggle between Madame Zola and the municipality had gone on, each
year diminishing her chance of success. In the end her position became desperate, and finding it
impossible to continue to reside at Aix, thelittle family removed to Paris in 1858. Fortunately Emile was
enabled by the intervention of certain friends of his late father to continue his studies, and became a
day pupil at the Lycee St. Louis, on the Boulevard St.Michael. For some reason he made little progress
there, and when he presented himself for his

baccalaureat