Jean Valjean (
road_to_calvary) wrote2015-11-30 07:50 pm
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It is early May, but you would not know it in this cellar. The place is as cold as ever, it smells damp, and the usual guard against the stone's natural chill - the fire - is gone. Valjean stares at the place where it should be; he is quite still, but his mind is working furiously.
Yesterday he had stayed a long time. Basque had to come twice to inform Cosette that dinner was served, and the family was waiting. This must have to do with that, they are trying to tell him something, they are reminding him that he is here by their grace alone.
But, wait. No, that is too much. In an instant, the truth comes to him. 'Ah,' he says, to himself. 'It is perfectly simple. The cold weather has ceased.’ And why should they need a fire, indeed? It is quite warm outside, quite pleasant. That must be the answer.
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Cosette glows. "He did. He is the handsomest man I've ever known, the handsomest man I've seen, don't you think so?"
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One thing Valjean does know, is that the more he talks about Marius and his qualities, the longer he can stay and talk with Cosette. She is always willing to sit and extol on his perfection.
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"I don't know if he plans to take up law again. We haven't spoken of it. But you're quite right. He would be very good! He's good at anything he turns his hand to. You're perfectly right that clients would be impressed, they'd be pleased to have such a man helping them."
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'He would be a force for good. All of society would choose him when they needed help, though of course if he does not want to practice, it is all very well. You will have him to yourself and run your house together, and be very happy. He will look after you, and have the servants run after you and make sure you have everything you need. I expect he will take a box at the theatre for you, if you wish, and a carriage to take you about the city. There will be no enjoyment you cannot share.'
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Don't you miss our walks, don't you ever want to walk with me anymore, won't you be my papa--
"But of course you're right, everything will be joy and enjoyment. It already is, you know, I'm very happy. Perhaps it's selfish of me to be glad to have Marius to myself, but I'm happy to be selfish, if so! About my dear Marius, I'm glad to be."
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He pulls himself up as soon as the words leave his mouth. They are too personal, and he has no right to express such a wish as if she were his own flesh and blood.
'A carriage is your choice, of course, but there is no reason you should not have one. You are rich, and money will only add to your lives. At least when the summer is over. But the weather is fine, as you say. No doubt there is time enough.'
He wants more than anything to see them enjoying their wealth.
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But it's always wealth and fripperies with him: he wants her to have everything fine, even when it's silly, even when she doesn't need it. Expensive presents from Grandfather Gillenormand, and urgings to buy anything he thinks a fine lady might like from Monsieur Jean, while he tells her household not to light the fire she wants lit. She finds a laugh: "We never had a carriage, monsieur! I like to walk. I like to see the city, on my husband's arm. Why should I shut such a fine fellow away in a carriage, when I can walk arm in arm with him in the sun?"
She finds a laugh, but it's tiring. Perhaps Basque will call her soon to dinner. Marius is quiet, and dear, like her father, and unlike her father she doesn't have to work to remind him to love her.
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He thinks that he would have bought her a carriage if she had asked for one. He would have bought her anything. It was good that she was humble, but that was his influence, because he could not do anything but hide. He does not want that life for her now; she is free, and can live in the gaze of all society, just as he has worked to make possible for her. There is no need to be fettered, as she was with him.
But he cannot tell her that. And her gaiety seems a little forced now, and he wilts at the idea of this distance between them even as he knows it cannot be any other way.
For the first time, he is a little glad when Basque calls. By tomorrow, this will be forgotten and they can talk of Marius again, and all will be well.