1726 Les Miserables
He went on:—
‘Do you love me?’
She replied, sobbing, by that word from paradise which
is never more charming than amid tears:—
‘I adore you!’
He continued in a tone which was an indescribable
caress:—
‘Do not weep. Tell me, will you do this for me, and cease
to weep?’
‘Do you love me?’ said she.
He took her hand.
‘Cosette, I have never given my word of honor to any one,
because my word of honor terrifies me. I feel that my father
is by my side. Well, I give you my most sacred word of hon-
or, that if you go away I shall die.’
In the tone with which he uttered these words there
lay a melancholy so solemn and so tranquil, that Cosette
trembled. She felt that chill which is produced by a true
and gloomy thing as it passes by. The shock made her cease
weeping.
‘Now, listen,’ said he, ‘do not expect me to-morrow.’
‘Why?’
‘Do not expect me until the day after to-morrow.’
‘Oh! Why?’
‘You will see.’
‘A day without seeing you! But that is impossible!’
‘Let us sacrifice one day in order to gain our whole lives,
perhaps.’
And Marius added in a low tone and in an aside:—