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When Courfeyrac had addressed to him some remark of this nature； Marius avoided women； both young and old； more than ever for a week to e； and he avoided Courfeyrac to boot。
Nevertheless； there existed in all the immensity of creation； two women whom Marius did not flee； and to whom he paid no attention whatever。 In truth； he would have been very much amazed if he had been informed that they were women。
One was the bearded old woman who swept out his chamber； and caused Courfeyrac to say：
〃Seeing that his servant woman wears his beard； Marius does not wear his own beard。〃 The other was a sort of little girl whom he saw very often； and whom he never looked at。
For more than a year； Marius had noticed in one of the walks of the Luxembourg； the one which skirts the parapet of the Pepiniere； a man and a very young girl； who were almost always seated side by side on the same bench； at the most solitary end of the alley； on the Rue de l'Ouest side。
Every time that that chance which meddles with the strolls of persons whose gaze is turned inwards； led Marius to that walk；and it was nearly every day；he found this couple there。
The man appeared to be about sixty years of age； he seemed sad and serious； his whole person presented the robust and weary aspect peculiar to military men who have retired from the service。
If he had worn a decoration； Marius would have said： 〃He is an ex…officer。〃 He had a kindly but unapproachable air； and he never let his glance linger on the eyes of any one。 He wore blue trousers； a blue frock coat and a broad…brimmed hat； which always appeared to be new； a black cravat； a quaker shirt； that is to say； it was dazzlingly white； but of coarse linen。
A grisette who passed near him one day； said：
〃Here's a very tidy widower。〃 His hair was very white。
The first time that the young girl who acpanied him came and seated herself on the bench which they seemed to have adopted； she was a sort of child thirteen or fourteen years of age； so thin as to be almost homely； awkward； insignificant； and with a possible promise of handsome eyes。
Only； they were always raised with a sort of displeasing assurance。
Her dress was both aged and childish； like the dress of the scholars in a convent； it consisted of a badly cut gown of black merino。
They had the air of being father and daughter。
Marius scanned this old man； who was not yet aged； and this little girl； who was not yet a person； for a few days； and thereafter paid no attention to them。
They； on their side； did not appear even to see him。 They conversed together with a peaceful and indifferent air。
The girl chattered incessantly and merrily。
The old man talked but little； and； at times； he fixed on her eyes overflowing with an ineffable paternity。
Marius had acquired the mechanical habit of strolling in that walk。 He invariably found them there。
This is the way things went：
Marius liked to arrive by the end of the alley which was furthest from their bench； he walked the whole length of the alley； passed in front of them； then returned to the extremity whence he had e； and began again。
This he did five or six times in the course of his promenade； and the promenade was taken five or six times a week； without its having occurred to him or to these people to exchange a greeting。
That personage； and that young girl； although they appeared；and perhaps because they appeared； to shun all glances； had； naturally； caused some attention on the part of the five or six students who strolled along the Pepiniere from time to time； the studious after their lectures； the others after their game of billiards。
Courfeyrac； who was among the last； had observed them several times； but； finding the girl homely； he had speedily and carefully kept out of the way。
He had fled； discharging at them a sobriquet； like a Parthian dart。 Impressed solely with the child's gown and the old man's hair； he had dubbed the daughter Mademoiselle Lanoire； and the father； Monsieur Leblanc； so that as no one knew them under any other title； this nickname became a law in the default of any other name。 The students said：
〃Ah！
Monsieur Leblanc is on his bench。〃 And Marius； like the rest； had found it convenient to call this unknown gentleman Monsieur Leblanc。
We shall follow their example； and we shall say M。 Leblanc； in order to facilitate this tale。
So Marius saw them nearly every day； at the same hour； during the first year。
He found the man to his taste； but the girl insipid。
BOOK SIXTH。THE CONJUNCTION OF TWO STARS
CHAPTER II
LUX FACTA EST
During the second year； precisely at the point in this history which the reader has now reached； it chanced that this habit of the Luxembourg was interrupted； without Marius himself being quite aware why； and nearly six months elapsed； during which he did not set foot in the alley。
One day； at last； he returned thither once more； it was a serene summer morning； and Marius was in joyous mood； as one is when the weather is fine。
It seemed to him that he had in his heart all the songs of the birds that he was listening to； and all the bits of blue sky of which he caught glimpses through the leaves of the trees。
He went straight to 〃his alley；〃 and when he reached the end of it he perceived； still on the same bench； that well…known couple。 Only； when he approached； it certainly was the same man； but it seemed to him that it was no longer the same girl。
The person whom he now beheld was a tall and beautiful creature； possessed of all the most charming lines of a woman at the precise moment when they are still bined with all the most ingenuous graces of the child； a pure and fugitive moment； which can be expressed only by these two words； 〃fifteen years。〃
She had wonderful brown hair； shaded with threads of gold； a brow that seemed made of marble； cheeks that seemed made of rose…leaf； a pale flush； an agitated whiteness； an exquisite mouth； whence smiles darted like sunbeams； and words like music； a head such as Raphael would have given to Mary； set upon a neck that Jean Goujon would have attri