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rition of youth to youth； the dream of nights bee a reality yet remaining a dream； the longed…for phantom realized and made flesh at last； but having as yet； neither name； nor fault； nor spot； nor exigence； nor defect； in a word； the distant lover who lingered in the ideal； a chimaera with a form。 Any nearer and more palpable meeting would have alarmed Cosette at this first stage； when she was still half immersed in the exaggerated mists of the cloister。
She had all the fears of children and all the fears of nuns bined。
The spirit of the convent； with which she had been permeated for the space of five years； was still in the process of slow evaporation from her person； and made everything tremble around her。
In this situation he was not a lover； he was not even an admirer； he was a vision。 She set herself to adoring Marius as something charming； luminous； and impossible。
As extreme innocence borders on extreme coquetry； she smiled at him with all frankness。
Every day； she looked forward to the hour for their walk with impatience； she found Marius there； she felt herself unspeakably happy； and thought in all sincerity that she was expressing her whole thought when she said to Jean Valjean：
〃What a delicious garden that Luxembourg is！〃
Marius and Cosette were in the dark as to one another。
They did not address each other； they did not salute each other； they did not know each other； they saw each other； and like stars of heaven which are separated by millions of leagues； they lived by gazing at each other。
It was thus that Cosette gradually became a woman and developed； beautiful and loving； with a consciousness of her beauty； and in ignorance of her love。
She was a coquette to boot through her ignorance。
BOOK THIRD。THE HOUSE IN THE RUE PLUMET
CHAPTER VII
TO ONE SADNESS OPPOSE A SADNESS AND A HALF
All situations have their instincts。
Old and eternal Mother Nature warned Jean Valjean in a dim way of the presence of Marius。 Jean Valjean shuddered to the very bottom of his soul。
Jean Valjean saw nothing； knew nothing； and yet he scanned with obstinate attention； the darkness in which he walked； as though he felt on one side of him something in process of construction； and on the other； something which was crumbling away。
Marius； also warned； and； in accordance with the deep law of God； by that same Mother Nature； did all he could to keep out of sight of 〃the father。〃
Nevertheless； it came to pass that Jean Valjean sometimes espied him。
Marius' manners were no longer in the least natural。
He exhibited ambiguous prudence and awkward daring。
He no longer came quite close to them as formerly。 He seated himself at a distance and pretended to be reading； why did he pretend that？
Formerly he had e in his old coat； now he wore his new one every day； Jean Valjean was not sure that he did not have his hair curled； his eyes were very queer； he wore gloves； in short； Jean Valjean cordially detested this young man。
Cosette allowed nothing to be divined。
Without knowing just what was the matter with her she was convinced that there was something in it； and that it must be concealed。
There was a coincidence between the taste for the toilet which had recently e to Cosette； and the habit of new clothes developed by that stranger which was very repugnant to Jean Valjean。
It might be accidental； no doubt； certainly； but it was a menacing accident。
He never opened his mouth to Cosette about this stranger。
One day； however； he could not refrain from so doing； and； with that vague despair which suddenly casts the lead into the depths of its despair； he said to her：
〃What a very pedantic air that young man has！〃
Cosette； but a year before only an indifferent little girl； would have replied：
〃Why； no； he is charming。〃
Ten years later； with the love of Marius in her heart； she would have answered： 〃A pedant； and insufferable to the sight！
You are right！〃 At the moment in life and the heart which she had then attained； she contented herself with replying； with supreme calmness： 〃That young man！〃
As though she now beheld him for the first time in her life。
〃How stupid I am！〃 thought Jean Valjean。
〃She had not noticed him。 It is I who have pointed him out to her。〃
Oh； simplicity of the old！ oh； the depth of children！
It is one of the laws of those fresh years of suffering and trouble； of those vivacious conflicts between a first love and the first obstacles； that the young girl does not allow herself to be caught in any trap whatever； and that the young man falls into every one。 Jean Valjean had instituted an undeclared war against Marius； which Marius； with the sublime stupidity of his passion and his age； did not divine。
Jean Valjean laid a host of ambushes for him； he changed his hour； he changed his bench； he forgot his handkerchief； he came alone to the Luxembourg； Marius dashed headlong into all these snares； and to all the interrogation marks planted by Jean Valjean in his pathway； he ingenuously answered 〃yes。〃 But Cosette remained immured in her apparent unconcern and in her imperturbable tranquillity； so that Jean Valjean arrived at the following conclusion：
〃That ninny is madly in love with Cosette； but Cosette does not even know that he exists。〃
None the less did he bear in his heart a mournful tremor。 The minute when Cosette would love might strike at any moment。 Does not everything begin with indifference？
Only once did Cosette make a mistake and alarm him。
He rose from his seat to depart； after a stay of three hours； and she said： 〃What； already？〃
Jean Valjean had not discontinued his trips to the Luxembourg； as he did not wish to do anything out of the way； and as； above all things； he feared to arouse Cosette； but during the hours which were so sweet to the lovers； while Cosette was sending her smile to the intoxicated Marius； who perceived nothing else now； and who now saw nothing in all the world but an adored and radiant face； Jean Valjean was fixing on Marius flashing and terrible eyes。
He； who had finally e to believe