Page 2048 - les-miserables

CHAPTER XVI

HOW FROM A BROTHER

ONE BECOMES A FATHER

At that same moment, in the garden of the Luxembourg,—
for the gaze of the drama must be everywhere present,—two
children were holding each other by the hand. One might
have been seven years old, the other five. The rain having
soaked them, they were walking along the paths on the sun-
ny side; the elder was leading the younger; they were pale
and ragged; they had the air of wild birds. The smaller of
them said: ‘I am very hungry.’
The elder, who was already somewhat of a protector, was
leading his brother with his left hand and in his right he car-
ried a small stick.
They were alone in the garden. The garden was deserted,
the gates had been closed by order of the police, on account
of the insurrection. The troops who had been bivouacking
there had departed for the exigencies of combat.
How did those children come there? Perhaps they had
escaped from some guard-house which stood ajar; perhaps
there was in the vicinity, at the Barriere d’Enfer; or on the

2048 Les Miserables