Aimée, two young orphans living under the care of a neglectful tuteur, Joseph Ledoux. The opening chapters depict their miserable existence, wandering the streets of Paris, selling flowers, and dreaming of a better life. César occasionally questions their past, but Joseph always dismisses their inquiries. One day, while trying to earn a living, the siblings receive a piece of gold from a kind lady, which fills them with hope. However, Joseph's greed and cruelty quickly extinguish any joy they might have felt. Ultimately, their journey leads them to a chance encounter with good-hearted villagers who take them in, offering a glimpse of a more hopeful and nurturing life as they navigate the challenges of their precarious existence. (This is an automatically generated summary.)