Page 2305 - les-miserables

CHAPTER II

JEAN VALJEAN STILL

WEARS HIS ARM IN A SLING

To realize one’s dream. To whom is this accorded? There
must be elections for this in heaven; we are all candidates,
unknown to ourselves; the angels vote. Cosette and Marius
had been elected.
Cosette, both at the mayor’s office and at church, was
dazzling and touching. Toussaint, assisted by Nicolette, had
dressed her.
Cosette wore over a petticoat of white taffeta, her robe
of Binche guipure, a veil of English point, a necklace of fine
pearls, a wreath of orange flowers; all this was white, and,
from the midst of that whiteness she beamed forth. It was
an exquisite candor expanding and becoming transfigured
in the light. One would have pronounced her a virgin on the
point of turning into a goddess.
Marius’ handsome hair was lustrous and perfumed; here
and there, beneath the thick curls, pale lines—the scars of
the barricade— were visible.
The grandfather, haughty, with head held high, amal-

2305