Page 485 - les-miserables

I am not angry. I know well that I am about to be happy.
All night long I have seen white things, and persons who
smiled at me. When Monsieur le Docteur pleases, he shall
bring me Cosette. I have no longer any fever; I am well. I am
perfectly conscious that there is nothing the matter with me
any more; but I am going to behave as though I were ill, and
not stir, to please these ladies here. When it is seen that I am
very calm, they will say, ‘She must have her child.’’
M. Madeleine was sitting on a chair beside the bed. She
turned towards him; she was making a visible effort to be
calm and ‘very good,’ as she expressed it in the feebleness
of illness which resembles infancy, in order that, seeing her
so peaceable, they might make no difficulty about bringing
Cosette to her. But while she controlled herself she could
not refrain from questioning M. Madeleine.
‘Did you have a pleasant trip, Monsieur le Maire? Oh!
how good you were to go and get her for me! Only tell me
how she is. Did she stand the journey well? Alas! she will not
recognize me. She must have forgotten me by this time, poor
darling! Children have no memories. They are like birds. A
child sees one thing to-day and another thing to-morrow,
and thinks of nothing any longer. And did she have white
linen? Did those Thenardiers keep her clean? How have
they fed her? Oh! if you only knew how I have suffered, put-
ting such questions as that to myself during all the time of
my wretchedness. Now, it is all past. I am happy. Oh, how I
should like to see her! Do you think her pretty, Monsieur le
Maire? Is not my daughter beautiful? You must have been
very cold in that diligence! Could she not be brought for

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