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What flowed from the first？
An immense curse； the gnashing of teeth； hatred； desperate viciousness； a cry of rage against human society； a sarcasm against heaven。
What results flowed from the second？
Blessings and love。
And in these two places； so similar yet so unlike； these two species of beings who were so very unlike； were undergoing the same work； expiation。
Jean Valjean understood thoroughly the expiation of the former； that personal expiation； the expiation for one's self。
But he did not understand that of these last； that of creatures without reproach and without stain； and he trembled as he asked himself： The expiation of what？
What expiation？
A voice within his conscience replied：
〃The most divine of human generosities； the expiation for others。〃
Here all personal theory is withheld； we are only the narrator； we place ourselves at Jean Valjean's point of view； and we translate his impressions。
Before his eyes he had the sublime summit of abnegation； the highest possible pitch of virtue； the innocence which pardons men their faults； and which expiates in their stead； servitude submitted to； torture accepted； punishment claimed by souls which have not sinned； for the sake of sparing it to souls which have fallen； the love of humanity swallowed up in the love of God； but even there preserving its distinct and mediatorial character； sweet and feeble beings possessing the misery of those who are punished and the smile of those who are repensed。
And he remembered that he had dared to murmur！
Often； in the middle of the night； he rose to listen to the grateful song of those innocent creatures weighed down with severities； and the blood ran cold in his veins at the thought that those who were justly chastised raised their voices heavenward only in blasphemy； and that he； wretch that he was； had shaken his fist at God。
There was one striking thing which caused him to meditate deeply； like a warning whisper from Providence itself：
the scaling of that wall； the passing of those barriers； the adventure accepted even at the risk of death； the painful and difficult ascent； all those efforts even； which he had made to escape from that other place of expiation； he had made in order to gain entrance into this one。
Was this a symbol of his destiny？
This house was a prison likewise and bore a melancholy resemblance to that other one whence he had fled； and yet he had never conceived an idea of anything similar。
Again he beheld gratings； bolts； iron barsto guard whom？
Angels。
These lofty walls which he had seen around tigers； he now beheld once more around lambs。
This was a place of expiation； and not of punishment； and yet； it was still more austere； more gloomy； and more pitiless than the other。
These virgins were even more heavily burdened than the convicts。 A cold； harsh wind； that wind which had chilled his youth； traversed the barred and padlocked grating of the vultures； a still harsher and more biting breeze blew in the cage of these doves。
Why？
When he thought on these things； all that was within him was lost in amazement before this mystery of sublimity。
In these meditations； his pride vanished。
He scrutinized his own heart in all manner of ways； he felt his pettiness； and many a time he wept。
All that had entered into his life for the last six months had led him back towards the Bishop's holy injunctions； Cosette through love； the convent through humility。
Sometimes at eventide； in the twilight； at an hour when the garden was deserted； he could be seen on his knees in the middle of the walk which skirted the chapel； in front of the window through which he had gazed on the night of his arrival； and turned towards the spot where； as he knew； the sister was making reparation； prostrated in prayer。 Thus he prayed as he knelt before the sister。
It seemed as though he dared not kneel directly before God。
Everything that surrounded him； that peaceful garden； those fragrant flowers； those children who uttered joyous cries； those grave and simple women； that silent cloister； slowly permeated him； and little by little； his soul became pounded of silence like the cloister； of perfume like the flowers； of simplicity like the women； of joy like the children。
And then he reflected that these had been two houses of God which had received him in succession at two critical moments in his life：
the first； when all doors were closed and when human society rejected him； the second； at a moment when human society had again set out in pursuit of him； and when the galleys were again yawning； and that； had it not been for the first； he should have relapsed into crime； and had it not been for the second； into torment。
His whole heart melted in gratitude； and he loved more and more。
Many years passed in this manner； Cosette was growing up。
＇The end of Volume II。 〃Cosette〃＇
BOOK FIRST。PARIS STUDIED IN ITS ATOM
CHAPTER I
PARVULUS
Paris has a child； and the forest has a bird； the bird is called the sparrow； the child is called the gamin。
Couple these two ideas which contain； the one all the furnace； the other all the dawn； strike these two sparks together； Paris； childhood； there leaps out from them a little being。
Homuncio； Plautus would say。
This little being is joyous。
He has not food every day； and he goes to the play every evening； if he sees good。
He has no shirt on his body； no shoes on his feet； no roof over his head； he is like the flies of heaven； who have none of these things。 He is from seven to thirteen years of age； he lives in bands； roams the streets； lodges in the open air； wears an old pair of trousers of his father's； which descend below his heels； an old hat of some other father； which descends below his ears； a single suspender of yellow listing； he runs； lies in wait； rummages about； wastes time； blackens pipes； swears like a convict； haunts the wine…shop； knows thieves； calls gay women thou； talks slang； sings obscene songs； and has no evil in his heart。 This is because he has in his heart a pearl； innocence； and