1064 Les Miserables
gation characterized the second. Skill follows ardor. Let us
confine ourselves here to this sketch.
In the course of this narrative, the author of this book
has encountered in his path this curious moment of con-
temporary history; he has been forced to cast a passing
glance upon it, and to trace once more some of the singu-
lar features of this society which is unknown to-day. But
he does it rapidly and without any bitter or derisive idea.
Souvenirs both respectful and affectionate, for they touch
his mother, attach him to this past. Moreover, let us remark,
this same petty world had a grandeur of its own. One may
smile at it, but one can neither despise nor hate it. It was the
France of former days.
Marius Pontmercy pursued some studies, as all children
do. When he emerged from the hands of Aunt Gillenor-
mand, his grandfather confided him to a worthy professor
of the most purely classic innocence. This young soul which
was expanding passed from a prude to a vulgar pedant.
Marius went through his years of college, then he entered
the law school. He was a Royalist, fanatical and severe. He
did not love his grandfather much, as the latter’s gayety and
cynicism repelled him, and his feelings towards his father
were gloomy.
He was, on the whole, a cold and ardent, noble, generous,
proud, religious, enthusiastic lad; dignified to harshness,
pure to shyness.