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ess； forty years of abandonment and widowhood； had sufficed to restore to this privileged spot ferns； mulleins； hemlock； yarrow； tall weeds； great crimped plants； with large leaves of pale green cloth； lizards； beetles； uneasy and rapid insects； to cause to spring forth from the depths of the earth and to reappear between those four walls a certain indescribable and savage grandeur； and for nature； which disconcerts the petty arrangements of man； and which sheds herself always thoroughly where she diffuses herself at all； in the ant as well as in the eagle； to blossom out in a petty little Parisian garden with as much rude force and majesty as in a virgin forest of the New World。
Nothing is small； in fact； any one who is subject to the profound and penetrating influence of nature knows this。
Although no absolute satisfaction is given to philosophy； either to circumscribe the cause or to limit the effect； the contemplator falls into those unfathomable ecstasies caused by these depositions of force terminating in unity。
Everything toils at everything。
Algebra is applied to the clouds； the radiation of the star profits the rose； no thinker would venture to affirm that the perfume of the hawthorn is useless to the constellations。
Who； then； can calculate the course of a molecule？
How do we know that the creation of worlds is not determined by the fall of grains of sand？
Who knows the reciprocal ebb and flow of the infinitely great and the infinitely little； the reverberations of causes in the precipices of being； and the avalanches of creation？
The tiniest worm is of importance； the great is little； the little is great； everything is balanced in necessity； alarming vision for the mind。
There are marvellous relations between beings and things； in that inexhaustible whole； from the sun to the grub； nothing despises the other； all have need of each other。
The light does not bear away terrestrial perfumes into the azure depths； without knowing what it is doing； the night distributes stellar essences to the sleeping flowers。 All birds that fly have round their leg the thread of the infinite。 Germination is plicated with the bursting forth of a meteor and with the peck of a swallow cracking its egg； and it places on one level the birth of an earthworm and the advent of Socrates。 Where the telescope ends； the microscope begins。
Which of the two possesses the larger field of vision？
Choose。
A bit of mould is a pleiad of flowers； a nebula is an ant…hill of stars。 The same promiscuousness； and yet more unprecedented； exists between the things of the intelligence and the facts of substance。 Elements and principles mingle； bine； wed； multiply with each other； to such a point that the material and the moral world are brought eventually to the same clearness。
The phenomenon is perpetually returning upon itself。
In the vast cosmic exchanges the universal life goes and es in unknown quantities； rolling entirely in the invisible mystery of effluvia； employing everything； not losing a single dream； not a single slumber； sowing an animalcule here； crumbling to bits a planet there； oscillating and winding； making of light a force and of thought an element； disseminated and invisible； dissolving all； except that geometrical point； the I； bringing everything back to the soul…atom； expanding everything in God； entangling all activity； from summit to base； in the obscurity of a dizzy mechanism； attaching the flight of an insect to the movement of the earth； subordinating； who knows？
Were it only by the identity of the law； the evolution of the et in the firmament to the whirling of the infusoria in the drop of water。
A machine made of mind。 Enormous gearing； the prime motor of which is the gnat； and whose final wheel is the zodiac。
BOOK THIRD。THE HOUSE IN THE RUE PLUMET
CHAPTER IV
CHANGE OF GATE
It seemed that this garden； created in olden days to conceal wanton mysteries； had been transformed and bee fitted to shelter chaste mysteries。
There were no longer either arbors； or bowling greens； or tunnels； or grottos； there was a magnificent； dishevelled obscurity falling like a veil over all。
Paphos had been made over into Eden。 It is impossible to say what element of repentance had rendered this retreat wholesome。
This flower…girl now offered her blossom to the soul。
This coquettish garden； formerly decidedly promised； had returned to virginity and modesty。
A justice assisted by a gardener； a goodman who thought that he was a continuation of Lamoignon； and another goodman who thought that he was a continuation of Lenotre； had turned it about； cut； ruffled； decked； moulded it to gallantry； nature had taken possession of it once more； had filled it with shade； and had arranged it for love。
There was； also； in this solitude； a heart which was quite ready。 Love had only to show himself； he had here a temple posed of verdure； grass； moss； the sight of birds； tender shadows； agitated branches； and a soul made of sweetness； of faith； of candor； of hope； of aspiration； and of illusion。
Cosette had left the convent when she was still almost a child； she was a little more than fourteen； and she was at the 〃ungrateful age〃； we have already said； that with the exception of her eyes； she was homely rather than pretty； she had no ungraceful feature； but she was awkward； thin； timid and bold at once； a grown…up little girl； in short。
Her education was finished； that is to say； she has been taught religion； and even and above all； devotion； then 〃history；〃 that is to say the thing that bears that name in convents； geography； grammar； the participles； the kings of France； a little music； a little drawing； etc。； but in all other respects she was utterly ignorant； which is a great charm and a great peril。
The soul of a young girl should not be left in the dark； later on； mirages that are too abrupt and too lively are formed there； as in a dark chamber。 She should be gently and discreetly enlightened； rather with the reflection of realities than with their harsh and direct light。 A useful and graciously austere half…light which di