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Cosette often acpanied Jean Valjean on these visits to the poor； on which they recovered some remnants of their former free intercourse； and sometimes； when the day had been a good one； and they had assisted many in distress； and cheered and warmed many little children； Cosette was rather merry in the evening。 It was at this epoch that they paid their visit to the Jondrette den。
On the day following that visit； Jean Valjean made his appearance in the pavilion in the morning； calm as was his wont； but with a large wound on his left arm which was much inflamed； and very angry； which resembled a burn； and which he explained in some way or other。 This wound resulted in his being detained in the house for a month with fever。
He would not call in a doctor。
When Cosette urged him； 〃Call the dog…doctor；〃 said he。
Cosette dressed the wound morning and evening with so divine an air and such angelic happiness at being of use to him； that Jean Valjean felt all his former joy returning； his fears and anxieties dissipating； and he gazed at Cosette； saying：
〃Oh！ what a kindly wound！ Oh！ what a good misfortune！〃
Cosette on perceiving that her father was ill； had deserted the pavilion and again taken a fancy to the little lodging and the back courtyard。 She passed nearly all her days beside Jean Valjean and read to him the books which he desired。
Generally they were books of travel。 Jean Valjean was undergoing a new birth； his happiness was reviving in these ineffable rays； the Luxembourg； the prowling young stranger； Cosette's coldness；all these clouds upon his soul were growing dim。 He had reached the point where he said to himself：
〃I imagined all that。 I am an old fool。〃
His happiness was so great that the horrible discovery of the Thenardiers made in the Jondrette hovel； unexpected as it was； had； after a fashion； glided over him unnoticed。
He had succeeded in making his escape； all trace of him was lostwhat more did he care for！ he only thought of those wretched beings to pity them。
〃Here they are in prison； and henceforth they will be incapacitated for doing any harm；〃 he thought； 〃but what a lamentable family in distress！〃
As for the hideous vision of the Barriere du Maine； Cosette had not referred to it again。
Sister Sainte…Mechtilde had taught Cosette music in the convent； Cosette had the voice of a linnet with a soul； and sometimes； in the evening； in the wounded man's humble abode； she warbled melancholy songs which delighted Jean Valjean。
Spring came； the garden was so delightful at that season of the year； that Jean Valjean said to Cosette：
〃You never go there； I want you to stroll in it。〃
〃As you like； father；〃 said Cosette。
And for the sake of obeying her father； she resumed her walks in the garden； generally alone； for； as we have mentioned； Jean Valjean； who was probably afraid of being seen through the fence； hardly ever went there。
Jean Valjean's wound had created a diversion。
When Cosette saw that her father was suffering less； that he was convalescing； and that he appeared to be happy； she experienced a contentment which she did not even perceive； so gently and naturally had it e。
Then； it was in the month of March； the days were growing longer； the winter was departing； the winter always bears away with it a portion of our sadness； then came April； that daybreak of summer； fresh as dawn always is； gay like every childhood； a little inclined to weep at times like the new…born being that it is。 In that month； nature has charming gleams which pass from the sky； from the trees； from the meadows and the flowers into the heart of man。
Cosette was still too young to escape the penetrating influence of that April joy which bore so strong a resemblance to herself。 Insensibly； and without her suspecting the fact； the blackness departed from her spirit。
In spring； sad souls grow light； as light falls into cellars at midday。
Cosette was no longer sad。 However； though this was so； she did not account for it to herself。 In the morning； about ten o'clock； after breakfast； when she had succeeded in enticing her father into the garden for a quarter of an hour； and when she was pacing up and down in the sunlight in front of the steps； supporting his left arm for him； she did not perceive that she laughed every moment and that she was happy。
Jean Valjean； intoxicated； beheld her growing fresh and rosy once more。
〃Oh！
What a good wound！〃 he repeated in a whisper。
And he felt grateful to the Thenardiers。
His wound once healed； he resumed his solitary twilight strolls。
It is a mistake to suppose that a person can stroll alone in that fashion in the uninhabited regions of Paris without meeting with some adventure。
BOOK FOURTH。SUCCOR FROM BELOW MAY TURN OUT TO BE SUCCOR FROM ON HIGH
CHAPTER II
MOTHER PLUTARQUE FINDS NO DIFFICULTY IN EXPLAINING A PHENOMENON
One evening； little Gavroche had had nothing to eat； he remembered that he had not dined on the preceding day either； this was being tiresome。
He resolved to make an effort to secure some supper。 He strolled out beyond the Salpetriere into deserted regions； that is where windfalls are to be found； where there is no one； one always finds something。
He reached a settlement which appeared to him to be the village of Austerlitz。
In one of his preceding lounges he had noticed there an old garden haunted by an old man and an old woman； and in that garden； a passable apple…tree。 Beside the apple…tree stood a sort of fruit…house； which was not securely fastened； and where one might contrive to get an apple。
One apple is a supper； one apple is life。
That which was Adam's ruin might prove Gavroche's salvation。
The garden abutted on a solitary； unpaved lane； bordered with brushwood while awaiting the arrival of houses； the garden was separated from it by a hedge。
Gavroche directed his steps towards this garden； he found the lane； he recognized the apple…tree； he verified the fruit…house； he examined the hedge； a hedge means merely one stride。
The day was declining； there was not even a cat in the lan