按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ulating colossus suitable for fairs； might have frightened the traveller at the outset； troubled her confidence； and disturbed what caused what we have to relate to vanish。 A person who is seated instead of standing erectdestinies hang upon such a thing as that。
The traveller told her story； with slight modifications。
That she was a working…woman； that her husband was dead； that her work in Paris had failed her； and that she was on her way to seek it elsewhere； in her own native parts； that she had left Paris that morning on foot； that； as she was carrying her child； and felt fatigued； she had got into the Villemomble coach when she met it； that from Villemomble she had e to Montfermeil on foot； that the little one had walked a little； but not much； because she was so young； and that she had been obliged to take her up； and the jewel had fallen asleep。
At this word she bestowed on her daughter a passionate kiss； which woke her。
The child opened her eyes； great blue eyes like her mother's； and looked atwhat？
Nothing； with that serious and sometimes severe air of little children； which is a mystery of their luminous innocence in the presence of our twilight of virtue。
One would say that they feel themselves to be angels； and that they know us to be men。
Then the child began to laugh； and although the mother held fast to her； she slipped to the ground with the unconquerable energy of a little being which wished to run。 All at once she caught sight of the two others in the swing； stopped short； and put out her tongue； in sign of admiration。
Mother Thenardier released her daughters； made them descend from the swing； and said：
〃Now amuse yourselves； all three of you。〃
Children bee acquainted quickly at that age； and at the expiration of a minute the little Thenardiers were playing with the new…er at making holes in the ground； which was an immense pleasure。
The new…er was very gay； the goodness of the mother is written in the gayety of the child； she had seized a scrap of wood which served her for a shovel； and energetically dug a cavity big enough for a fly。
The grave…digger's business bees a subject for laughter when performed by a child。
The two women pursued their chat。
〃What is your little one's name？〃
〃Cosette。〃
For Cosette； read Euphrasie。
The child's name was Euphrasie。 But out of Euphrasie the mother had made Cosette by that sweet and graceful instinct of mothers and of the populace which changes Josepha into Pepita； and Francoise into Sillette。
It is a sort of derivative which disarranges and disconcerts the whole science of etymologists。
We have known a grandmother who succeeded in turning Theodore into Gnon。
〃How old is she？〃
〃She is going on three。〃
〃That is the age of my eldest。〃
In the meantime； the three little girls were grouped in an attitude of profound anxiety and blissfulness； an event had happened； a big worm had emerged from the ground； and they were afraid； and they were in ecstasies over it。
Their radiant brows touched each other； one would have said that there were three heads in one aureole。
〃How easily children get acquainted at once！〃 exclaimed Mother Thenardier； 〃one would swear that they were three sisters！〃
This remark was probably the spark which the other mother had been waiting for。
She seized the Thenardier's hand； looked at her fixedly； and said：
〃Will you keep my child for me？〃
The Thenardier made one of those movements of surprise which signify neither assent nor refusal。
Cosette's mother continued：
〃You see； I cannot take my daughter to the country。
My work will not permit it。
With a child one can find no situation。 People are ridiculous in the country。
It was the good God who caused me to pass your inn。
When I caught sight of your little ones； so pretty； so clean； and so happy； it overwhelmed me。
I said： ‘Here is a good mother。
That is just the thing； that will make three sisters。'
And then； it will not be long before I return。 Will you keep my child for me？〃
〃I must see about it；〃 replied the Thenardier。
〃I will give you six francs a month。〃
Here a man's voice called from the depths of the cook…shop：
〃Not for less than seven francs。
And six months paid in advance。〃
〃Six times seven makes forty…two；〃 said the Thenardier。
〃I will give it；〃 said the mother。
〃And fifteen francs in addition for preliminary expenses；〃 added the man's voice。
〃Total； fifty…seven francs；〃 said Madame Thenardier。
And she hummed vaguely； with these figures：
〃It must be； said a warrior。〃
〃I will pay it；〃 said the mother。
〃I have eighty francs。
I shall have enough left to reach the country； by travelling on foot。 I shall earn money there； and as soon as I have a little I will return for my darling。〃
The man's voice resumed：
〃The little one has an outfit？〃
〃That is my husband；〃 said the Thenardier。
〃Of course she has an outfit； the poor treasure。I understood perfectly that it was your husband。And a beautiful outfit； too！ a senseless outfit； everything by the dozen； and silk gowns like a lady。
It is here； in my carpet…bag。〃
〃You must hand it over；〃 struck in the man's voice again。
〃Of course I shall give it to you；〃 said the mother。
〃It would be very queer if I were to leave my daughter quite naked！〃
The master's face appeared。
〃That's good；〃 said he。
The bargain was concluded。
The mother passed the night at the inn； gave up her money and left her child； fastened her carpet…bag once more； now reduced in volume by the removal of the outfit； and light henceforth and set out on the following morning； intending to return soon。
People arrange such departures tranquilly； but they are despairs！
A neighbor of the Thenardiers met this mother as she was setting out； and came back with the remark：
〃I have just seen a woman crying in the street so that it was enough to rend your heart。〃
When Cosette's mother had taken her departure； the man said to the woman：
〃That will serve to pay my note for