Les miserables (Abridged) - Victor Hugo [437]
“There,” said she, “I am going to install myself by you in an arm-chair; we breakfast in half an hour, you shall say all you wish to; I know very well that men must talk, I shall be very good.”
Marius took her arm, and said to her lovingly:
“We are talking business.”
“By the way,” answered Cosette, “I have opened my window, a flock of pierrots [sparrows or masks] have just arrived in the garden. Birds, not masks. It is Ash Wednesday to-day; but not for the birds.”
“I tell you that we are talking business; go, my darling Cosette, leave us a moment. We are talking figures. It will tire you.”
“You have put on a charming cravat this morning, Marius. You are very coquettish, monsieur. It will not tire me.”
“I assure you that it will tire you.”
“No. Because it is you. I shall not understand you, but I will listen to you. When we hear voices that we love, we need not understand the words they say.To be here together is all that I want. I shall stay with you; pshaw!”
“You are my darling Cosette! Impossible.”
“Impossible!”
“Yes.”
“Very well,” replied Cosette. “I would have told you the news. I would have told you that grandfather is still asleep, that your aunt is at mass, that the chimney in my father Fauchelevent’s room smokes, that Nicolette has sent for the sweep, that Toussaint and Nicolette have had a quarrel already, that Nicolette makes fun of Toussaint’s stuttering. Well, you shall know nothing. Ah! it is impossible! I too, in my turn, you shall see, monsieur, I will say: it is impossible. Then who will be caught? I pray you, my darling Marius, let me stay here with you two.”
“I swear to you that we must be alone.”
“Well, am I anybody?”
Jean Valjean did not utter a word. Cosette turned towards him. “In the first place, father, I want you to come and kiss me. What are you doing there, saying nothing, instead of taking my part? who gave me such a father as that? You see plainly that I am very unfortunate in my domestic affairs. My husband beats me. Come, kiss me this instant.”
Jean Valjean approached.
Cosette turned towards Marius. “You, sir, I make faces at you.”
Then she offered her forehead to Jean Valjean.
Jean Valjean took a step towards her.
Cosette drew back.
“Father, you are pale. Does your arm hurt you?”
“It is well,” said Jean Valjean.
“Have you slept badly?”
“No.”
“Are you sad?”
“No.”
“Kiss me. If you are well, if you sleep well, if you are happy, I will not scold you.”
And again she offered him her forehead.
Jean Valjean kissed that forehead, upon which there was a celestial reflection.
“Smile.”
Jean Valjean obeyed. It was the smile of a spectre.
“Now defend me against my husband.”
“Cosette!—” said Marius.
“Get angry, father. Tell him that I must stay. You can surely talk before me. So you think me very silly. It is very astonishing then what you are saying! business, putting money in a bank, that is a great affair. Men play the mysterious for nothing. I want to stay. I am very pretty this morning. Look at me, Marius.”
And with an adorable shrug of the shoulders and an inexpressibly exquisite pout, she looked at Marius. It was like a flash between these two beings. That somebody was there mattered little.
“I love you!” said Marius.
“I adore you!” said Cosette.
And they fell irresistibly into each other’s arms.
“Now,” resumed Cosette, readjusting a fold of her gown with a little triumphant pout, “I shall stay.”
“What, no,” answered Marius, in a tone of entreaty, “we have something to finish.”
“No, still?”
Marius assumed a grave tone of voice:
“I assure you, Cosette, that it is impossible.”
“Ah! you put on your man’s voice, monsieur. Very well, I’ll go. You, father, you have not supported me. Monsieur my husband, monsieur my papa, you are tyrants. I am going to tell grandfather on you. If you think that I shall come back and talk nonsense to you, you are mistaken. I am proud. I wait for you now, you will see that it is you who will get bored without me. I am going away, very well.”
And she went out.
Two seconds later, the door opened again, her fresh