2434 Les Miserables
yonder who is in need of an angel.’ And the angel comes,
and one sees one’s Cosette again! and one sees one’s little
Cosette once more! Ah! I was very unhappy.’
For a moment he could not speak, then he went on:
‘I really needed to see Cosette a little bit now and then.
A heart needs a bone to gnaw. But I was perfectly conscious
that I was in the way. I gave myself reasons: ‘They do not
want you, keep in your own course, one has not the right
to cling eternally.’ Ah! God be praised, I see her once more!
Dost thou know, Cosette, thy husband is very handsome?
Ah! what a pretty embroidered collar thou hast on, luckily.
I am fond of that pattern. It was thy husband who chose it,
was it not? And then, thou shouldst have some cashmere
shawls. Let me call her thou, Monsieur Pontmercy. It will
not be for long.’
And Cosette began again:
‘How wicked of you to have left us like that! Where did
you go? Why have you stayed away so long? Formerly your
journeys only lasted three or four days. I sent Nicolette, the
answer always was: ‘He is absent.’ How long have you been
back? Why did you not let us know? Do you know that you
are very much changed? Ah! what a naughty father! he has
been ill, and we have not known it! Stay, Marius, feel how
cold his hand is!’
‘So you are here! Monsieur Pontmercy, you pardon me!’
repeated Jean Valjean.
At that word which Jean Valjean had just uttered once
more, all that was swelling Marius’ heart found vent.
He burst forth: