Part 298 (1/2)
”It is quite true that it would be charming for us to live together.
Their trees are full of birds. I would walk with Cosette. It is sweet to be among living people who bid each other 'good-day,' who call to each other in the garden. People see each other from early morning. We should each cultivate our own little corner. She would make me eat her strawberries. I would make her gather my roses. That would be charming.
Only ...”
He paused and said gently:
”It is a pity.”
The tear did not fall, it retreated, and Jean Valjean replaced it with a smile.
Cosette took both the old man's hands in hers.
”My G.o.d!” said she, ”your hands are still colder than before. Are you ill? Do you suffer?”
”I? No,” replied Jean Valjean. ”I am very well. Only ...”
He paused.
”Only what?”
”I am going to die presently.”
Cosette and Marius shuddered.
”To die!” exclaimed Marius.
”Yes, but that is nothing,” said Jean Valjean.
He took breath, smiled and resumed:
”Cosette, thou wert talking to me, go on, so thy little robin red-breast is dead? Speak, so that I may hear thy voice.”
Marius gazed at the old man in amazement.
Cosette uttered a heartrending cry.
”Father! my father! you will live. You are going to live. I insist upon your living, do you hear?”
Jean Valjean raised his head towards her with adoration.
”Oh! yes, forbid me to die. Who knows? Perhaps I shall obey. I was on the verge of dying when you came. That stopped me, it seemed to me that I was born again.”
”You are full of strength and life,” cried Marius. ”Do you imagine that a person can die like this? You have had sorrow, you shall have no more.
It is I who ask your forgiveness, and on my knees! You are going to live, and to live with us, and to live a long time. We take possession of you once more. There are two of us here who will henceforth have no other thought than your happiness.”
”You see,” resumed Cosette, all bathed in tears, ”that Marius says that you shall not die.”
Jean Valjean continued to smile.
”Even if you were to take possession of me, Monsieur Pontmercy, would that make me other than I am? No, G.o.d has thought like you and myself, and he does not change his mind; it is useful for me to go. Death is a good arrangement. G.o.d knows better than we what we need. May you be happy, may Monsieur Pontmercy have Cosette, may youth wed the morning, may there be around you, my children, lilacs and nightingales; may your life be a beautiful, sunny lawn, may all the enchantments of heaven fill your souls, and now let me, who am good for nothing, die; it is certain that all this is right. Come, be reasonable, nothing is possible now, I am fully conscious that all is over. And then, last night, I drank that whole jug of water. How good thy husband is, Cosette! Thou art much better off with him than with me.”