Page 1522 - les-miserables

CHAPTER VII

TO ONE SADNESS OPPOSE

A SADNESS AND A HALF

All situations have their instincts. Old and eternal Moth-
er Nature warned Jean Valjean in a dim way of the presence
of Marius. Jean Valjean shuddered to the very bottom of his
soul. Jean Valjean saw nothing, knew nothing, and yet he
scanned with obstinate attention, the darkness in which
he walked, as though he felt on one side of him something
in process of construction, and on the other, something
which was crumbling away. Marius, also warned, and, in
accordance with the deep law of God, by that same Mother
Nature, did all he could to keep out of sight of ‘the father.’
Nevertheless, it came to pass that Jean Valjean sometimes
espied him. Marius’ manners were no longer in the least
natural. He exhibited ambiguous prudence and awkward
daring. He no longer came quite close to them as formerly.
He seated himself at a distance and pretended to be reading;
why did he pretend that? Formerly he had come in his old
coat, now he wore his new one every day; Jean Valjean was
not sure that he did not have his hair curled, his eyes were

1522 Les Miserables