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Infact，ashehadgoodsense，andashehadcomparedthetwo，TheodulehadonlyservedtomakehimregretMariusallthemore。
Oneevening，——itwasthe24thofJune，whichdidnotpreventFatherGillenormandhavingarousingfireonthehearth，——hehaddismissedhisdaughter，whowassewinginaneighboringapartment。
Hewasaloneinhischamber，amiditspastoralscenes，withhisfeetproppedontheandirons，halfenvelopedinhishugescreenofcoromandellacquer，withitsnineleaves，withhiselbowrestingonatablewhereburnedtwocandlesunderagreenshade，engulfedinhistapestryarmchair，andinhishandabookwhichhewasnotreading。
Hewasdressed，accordingtohiswont，likeanincroyable，andresembledanantiqueportraitbyGarat。Thiswouldhavemadepeoplerunafterhiminthestreet，hadnothisdaughtercoveredhimup，wheneverhewentout，inavastbishop’swaddedcloak，whichconcealedhisattire。Athome，heneverworeadressinggown，exceptwhenheroseandretired。"Itgivesonealookofage，"
saidhe。
FatherGillenormandwasthinkingofMariuslovinglyandbitterly；
and，asusual，bitternesspredominated。Histendernessoncesouredalwaysendedbyboilingandturningtoindignation。
Hehadreachedthepointwhereamantriestomakeuphismindandtoacceptthatwhichrendshisheart。HewasexplainingtohimselfthattherewasnolongeranyreasonwhyMariusshouldreturn，thatifheintendedtoreturn，heshouldhavedoneitlongago，thathemustrenouncetheidea。Hewastryingtoaccustomhimselftothethoughtthatallwasover，andthatheshoulddiewithouthavingbeheld"thatgentleman"again。Buthiswholenaturerevolted；
hisagedpaternitywouldnotconsenttothis。"Well！"saidhe，——
thiswashisdolefulrefrain，——"hewillnotreturn！"Hisbaldheadhadfallenuponhisbreast，andhefixedamelancholyandirritatedgazeupontheashesonhishearth。
Intheverymidstofhisrevery，hisoldservantBasqueentered，andinquired:——
"CanMonsieurreceiveM。Marius？"
Theoldmansatuperect，pallid，andlikeacorpsewhichrisesundertheinfluenceofagalvanicshock。Allhisbloodhadretreatedtohisheart。Hestammered:——
"M。Mariuswhat？"
"Idon’tknow，"repliedBasque，intimidatedandputoutofcountenancebyhismaster’sair；"Ihavenotseenhim。Nicolettecameinandsaidtome:`There’sayoungmanhere；saythatitisM。Marius。’"
FatherGillenormandstammeredinalowvoice:——
"Showhimin。"
Andheremainedinthesameattitude，withshakinghead，andhiseyesfixedonthedoor。Itopenedoncemore。Ayoungmanentered。
ItwasMarius。
Mariushaltedatthedoor，asthoughwaitingtobebiddentoenter。
Hisalmostsqualidattirewasnotperceptibleintheobscuritycausedbytheshade。Nothingcouldbeseenbuthiscalm，grave，butstrangelysadface。
ItwasseveralminutesbeforeFatherGillenormand，dulledwithamazementandjoy，couldseeanythingexceptabrightnessaswhenoneisinthepresenceofanapparition。Hewasonthepointofswooning；
hesawMariusthroughadazzlinglight。Itcertainlywashe，itcertainlywasMarius。
Atlast！Afterthelapseoffouryears！Hegraspedhimentire，sotospeak，inasingleglance。Hefoundhimnoble，handsome，distinguished，well—grown，acompleteman，withasuitablemienandacharmingair。Hefeltadesiretoopenhisarms，tocallhim，toflinghimselfforward；hisheartmeltedwithrapture，affectionatewordsswelledandoverflowedhisbreast；atlengthallhistendernesscametothelightandreachedhislips，and，byacontrastwhichconstitutedtheveryfoundationofhisnature，whatcameforthwasharshness。Hesaidabruptly:——
"Whathaveyoucomeherefor？"
Mariusrepliedwithembarrassment:——
"Monsieur——"
M。GillenormandwouldhavelikedtohaveMariusthrowhimselfintohisarms。HewasdispleasedwithMariusandwithhimself。
Hewasconsciousthathewasbrusque，andthatMariuswascold。
Itcausedthegoodmanunendurableandirritatinganxietytofeelsotenderandforlornwithin，andonlytobeabletobehardoutside。
Bitternessreturned。HeinterruptedMariusinapeevishtone:——
"Thenwhydidyoucome？"
That"then"signified:Ifyoudonotcometoembraceme。
Mariuslookedathisgrandfather，whosepallorgavehimafaceofmarble。
"Monsieur——"
"Haveyoucometobegmypardon？Doyouacknowledgeyourfaults？"
HethoughthewasputtingMariusontherightroad，andthat"thechild"
wouldyield。Mariusshivered；itwasthedenialofhisfatherthatwasrequiredofhim；hedroppedhiseyesandreplied:——
"No，sir。"
"Then，"exclaimedtheoldmanimpetuously，withagriefthatwaspoignantandfullofwrath，"whatdoyouwantofme？"
Mariusclaspedhishands，advancedastep，andsaidinafeebleandtremblingvoice:——
"Sir，havepityonme。"
ThesewordstouchedM。Gillenormand；utteredalittlesooner，theywouldhaverenderedhimtender，buttheycametoolate。
Thegrandfatherrose；hesupportedhimselfwithbothhandsonhiscane；
hislipswerewhite，hisbrowwavered，buthisloftyformtoweredaboveMariusashebowed。
"Pityonyou，sir！Itisyouthdemandingpityoftheoldmanofninety—one！Youareenteringintolife，Iamleavingit；
yougototheplay，toballs，tothecafe，tothebilliard—hall；
youhavewit，youpleasethewomen，youareahandsomefellow；
asforme，Ispitonmybrandsintheheartofsummer；youarerichwiththeonlyrichesthatarereallysuch，Ipossessallthepovertyofage；infirmity，isolation！Youhaveyourthirty—twoteeth，agooddigestion，brighteyes，strength，appetite，health，gayety，aforestofblackhair；Ihavenolongerevenwhitehair，Ihavelostmyteeth，Iamlosingmylegs，Iamlosingmymemory；
therearethreenamesofstreetsthatIconfoundincessantly，theRueCharlot，theRueduChaume，andtheRueSaint—Claude，thatiswhatIhavecometo；youhavebeforeyouthewholefuture，fullofsunshine，andIambeginningtolosemysight，sofaramIadvancingintothenight；youareinlove，thatisamatterofcourse，Iambelovedbynooneinalltheworld；andyouaskpityofme！Parbleu！Moliereforgotthat。Ifthatisthewayyoujestatthecourthouse，Messieursthelawyers，Isincerelycomplimentyou。
Youaredroll。"
Andtheoctogenarianwentoninagraveandangryvoice:——
"Come，now，whatdoyouwantofme？"
"Sir，"saidMarius，"Iknowthatmypresenceisdispleasingtoyou，butIhavecomemerelytoaskonethingofyou，andthenIshallgoawayimmediately。"
"Youareafool！"saidtheoldman。"Whosaidthatyouweretogoaway？"
Thiswasthetranslationofthetenderwordswhichlayatthebottomofhisheart:——
"Askmypardon！Throwyourselfonmyneck！"
M。GillenormandfeltthatMariuswouldleavehiminafewmoments，thathisharshreceptionhadrepelledthelad，thathishardnesswasdrivinghimaway；hesaidallthistohimself，anditaugmentedhisgrief；
andashisgriefwasstraightwayconvertedintowrath，itincreasedhisharshness。HewouldhavelikedtohaveMariusunderstand，andMariusdidnotunderstand，whichmadethegoodmanfurious。
Hebeganagain:——
"What！youdesertedme，yourgrandfather，youleftmyhousetogonooneknowswhither，youdroveyouraunttodespair，youwentoff，itiseasilyguessed，toleadabachelorlife；it’smoreconvenient，toplaythedandy，tocomeinatallhours，toamuseyourself；
youhavegivenmenosignsoflife，youhavecontracteddebtswithouteventellingmetopaythem，youhavebecomeasmasherofwindowsandablusterer，and，attheendoffouryears，youcometome，andthatisallyouhavetosaytome！"
ThisviolentfashionofdrivingagrandsontotendernesswasproductiveonlyofsilenceonthepartofMarius。M。Gillenormandfoldedhisarms；agesturewhichwithhimwaspeculiarlyimperious，andapostrophizedMariusbitterly:——
"Letusmakeanendofthis。Youhavecometoasksomethingofme，yousay？Well，what？Whatisit？Speak！"
"Sir，"saidMarius，withthelookofamanwhofeelsthatheisfallingoveraprecipice，"Ihavecometoaskyourpermissiontomarry。"
M。Gillenormandrangthebell。Basqueopenedthedoorhalf—way。
"Callmydaughter。"
Asecondlater，thedoorwasopenedoncemore，MademoiselleGillenormanddidnotenter，butshowedherself；Mariuswasstanding，mute，withpendantarmsandthefaceofacriminal；M。Gillenormandwaspacingbackandforthintheroom。Heturnedtohisdaughterandsaidtoher:——
"Nothing。ItisMonsieurMarius。Saygooddaytohim。
Monsieurwishestomarry。That’sall。Goaway。"
Thecurt，hoarsesoundoftheoldman’svoiceannouncedastrangedegreeofexcitement。TheauntgazedatMariuswithafrightenedair，hardlyappearedtorecognizehim，didnotallowagestureorasyllabletoescapeher，anddisappearedatherfather’sbreathmoreswiftlythanastrawbeforethehurricane。
Inthemeantime，FatherGillenormandhadreturnedandplacedhisbackagainstthechimney—pieceoncemore。
"Youmarry！Atoneandtwenty！Youhavearrangedthat！Youhaveonlyapermissiontoask！aformality。Sitdown，sir。Well，youhavehadarevolutionsinceIhadthehonortoseeyoulast。
TheJacobinsgottheupperhand。Youmusthavebeendelighted。
AreyounotaRepublicansinceyouareaBaron？Youcanmakethatagree。TheRepublicmakesagoodsauceforthebarony。
AreyouoneofthosedecoratedbyJuly？HaveyoutakentheLouvreatall，sir？Quitenearhere，intheRueSaint—Antoine，oppositetheRuedesNonamdieres，thereisacannon—ballincrustedinthewallofthethirdstoryofahousewiththisinscription:
`July28th，1830。’Gotakealookatthat。Itproducesagoodeffect。
Ah！thosefriendsofyoursdoprettythings。Bytheway，aren’ttheyerectingafountainintheplaceofthemonumentofM。leDucdeBerry？
Soyouwanttomarry？Whom？Canoneinquirewithoutindiscretion？"
Hepaused，and，beforeMariushadtimetoanswer，headdedviolently:——
"Comenow，youhaveaprofession？Afortunemade？Howmuchdoyouearnatyourtradeoflawyer？"
"Nothing，"saidMarius，withasortoffirmnessandresolutionthatwasalmostfierce。
"Nothing？ThenallthatyouhavetoliveuponisthetwelvehundredlivresthatIallowyou？"
Mariusdidnotreply。M。Gillenormandcontinued:——
"ThenIunderstandthegirlisrich？"
"AsrichasIam。"
"What！Nodowry？"
"No。"
"Expectations？"
"Ithinknot。"
"Utterlynaked！What’sthefather？"
"Idon’tknow。"
"Andwhat’shername？"
"MademoiselleFauchelevent。"
"Fauchewhat？"
"Fauchelevent。"
"Pttt！"ejaculatedtheoldgentleman。
"Sir！"exclaimedMarius。
M。Gillenormandinterruptedhimwiththetoneofamanwhoisspeakingtohimself:——
"That’sright，oneandtwentyyearsofage，noprofession，twelvehundredlivresayear，MadamelaBaronnedePontmercywillgoandpurchaseacoupleofsous’worthofparsleyfromthefruiterer。"
"Sir，"repeatedMarius，inthedespairatthelasthope，whichwasvanishing，"Ientreatyou！IconjureyouinthenameofHeaven，withclaspedhands，sir，Ithrowmyselfatyourfeet，permitmetomarryher！"
Theoldmanburstintoashoutofstridentandmournfullaughter，coughingandlaughingatthesametime。
"Ah！ah！ah！Yousaidtoyourself:`Pardine！I’llgohuntupthatoldblockhead，thatabsurdnumskull！WhatashamethatI’mnottwenty—five！HowI’dtreathimtoanicerespectfulsummons！
HownicelyI’dgetalongwithouthim！It’snothingtome，I’dsaytohim:"You’reonlytoohappytoseeme，youoldidiot，Iwanttomarry，IdesiretowedMamselleNo—matter—whom，daughterofMonsieurNo—matter—what，Ihavenoshoes，shehasnochemise，thatjustsuits；Iwanttothrowmycareer，myfuture，myyouth，mylifetothedogs；Iwishtotakeaplungeintowretchednesswithawomanaroundmyneck，that’sanidea，andyoumustconsenttoit！"
andtheoldfossilwillconsent。’Go，mylad，doasyoulike，attachyourpaving—stone，marryyourPousselevent，yourCoupelevent——
Never，sir，never！"
"Father——"
"Never！"
Atthetoneinwhichthat"never"wasuttered，Mariuslostallhope。
Hetraversedthechamberwithslowsteps，withbowedhead，totteringandmorelikeadyingmanthanlikeonemerelytakinghisdeparture。
M。Gillenormandfollowedhimwithhiseyes，andatthemomentwhenthedooropened，andMariuswasonthepointofgoingout，headvancedfourpaces，withthesenilevivacityofimpetuousandspoiledoldgentlemen，seizedMariusbythecollar，broughthimbackenergeticallyintotheroom，flunghimintoanarmchairandsaidtohim:——
"Tellmeallaboutit！"
"Itwasthatsingleword"father"whichhadeffectedthisrevolution。
Mariusstaredathiminbewilderment。M。Gillenormand’smobilefacewasnolongerexpressiveofanythingbutroughandineffablegood—nature。Thegrandsirehadgivenwaybeforethegrandfather。
"Come，seehere，speak，tellmeaboutyourloveaffairs，jabber，tellmeeverything！Sapristi！howstupidyoungfolksare！"
"Father——"repeatedMarius。
Theoldman’sentirecountenancelightedupwithindescribableradiance。
"Yes，that’sright，callmefather，andyou’llsee！"
Therewasnowsomethingsokind，sogentle，soopenhearted，andsopaternalinthisbrusqueness，thatMarius，inthesuddentransitionfromdiscouragementtohope，wasstunnedandintoxicatedbyit，asitwere。Hewasseatednearthetable，thelightfromthecandlesbroughtoutthedilapidationofhiscostume，whichFatherGillenormandregardedwithamazement。
"Well，father——"saidMarius。
"Ah，bytheway，"interruptedM。Gillenormand，"youreallyhavenotapennythen？Youaredressedlikeapickpocket。"
Herummagedinadrawer，drewforthapurse，whichhelaidonthetable:"Hereareahundredlouis，buyyourselfahat。"
"Father，"pursuedMarius，"mygoodfather，ifyouonlyknew！Iloveher。
Youcannotimagineit；thefirsttimeIsawherwasattheLuxembourg，shecamethere；inthebeginning，Ididnotpaymuchheedtoher，andthen，Idon’tknowhowitcameabout，Ifellinlovewithher。
Oh！howunhappythatmademe！Now，atlast，Iseehereveryday，atherownhome，herfatherdoesnotknowit，justfancy，theyaregoingaway，itisinthegardenthatwemeet，intheevening，herfathermeanstotakehertoEngland，thenIsaidtomyself:
`I’llgoandseemygrandfatherandtellhimallabouttheaffair。
Ishouldgomadfirst，Ishoulddie，Ishouldfallill，Ishouldthrowmyselfintothewater。Iabsolutelymustmarryher，sinceIshouldgomadotherwise。’Thisisthewholetruth，andI
donotthinkthatIhaveomittedanything。Shelivesinagardenwithanironfence，intheRuePlumet。ItisintheneighborhoodoftheInvalides。"
FatherGillenormandhadseatedhimself，withabeamingcountenance，besideMarius。Ashelistenedtohimanddrankinthesoundofhisvoice，heenjoyedatthesametimeaprotractedpinchofsnuff。
Atthewords"RuePlumet"heinterruptedhisinhalationandallowedtheremainderofhissnufftofalluponhisknees。
"TheRuePlumet，theRuePlumet，didyousay？——Letussee！——Aretherenotbarracksinthatvicinity？——Why，yes，that’sit。YourcousinTheodulehasspokentomeaboutit。Thelancer，theofficer。
Agaygirl，mygoodfriend，agaygirl！——Pardieu，yes，theRuePlumet。
ItiswhatusedtobecalledtheRueBlomet。——Itallcomesbacktomenow。IhaveheardofthatlittlegirloftheironrailingintheRuePlumet。Inagarden，aPamela。Yourtasteisnotbad。
Sheissaidtobeaverytidycreature。Betweenourselves，Ithinkthatsimpletonofalancerhasbeencourtingherabit。
Idon’tknowwherehedidit。However，that’snottothepurpose。
Besides，heisnottobebelieved。Hebrags，Marius！Ithinkitquiteproperthatayoungmanlikeyoushouldbeinlove。
It’stherightthingatyourage。IlikeyoubetterasaloverthanasaJacobin。Ilikeyoubetterinlovewithapetticoat，sapristi！withtwentypetticoats，thanwithM。deRobespierre。
Formypart，Iwilldomyselfthejusticetosay，thatinthelineofsans—culottes，Ihaveneverlovedanyonebutwomen。Prettygirlsareprettygirls，thedeuce！There’snoobjectiontothat。Asforthelittleone，shereceivesyouwithoutherfather’sknowledge。
That’sintheestablishedorderofthings。Ihavehadadventuresofthatsamesortmyself。Morethanone。Doyouknowwhatisdonethen？
Onedoesnottakethematterferociously；onedoesnotprecipitatehimselfintothetragic；onedoesnotmakeone’smindtomarriageandM。leMairewithhisscarf。Onesimplybehaveslikeafellowofspirit。Oneshowsgoodsense。Slipalong，mortals；don’tmarry。
Youcomeandlookupyourgrandfather，whoisagood—naturedfellowatbottom，andwhoalwayshasafewrollsoflouisinanolddrawer；
yousaytohim:`Seehere，grandfather。’Andthegrandfathersays:
`That’sasimplematter。Youthmustamuseitself，andoldagemustwearout。Ihavebeenyoung，youwillbeold。Come，myboy，youshallpassitontoyourgrandson。Herearetwohundredpistoles。
Amuseyourself，deucetakeit！’Nothingbetter！That’sthewaytheaffairshouldbetreated。Youdon’tmarry，butthatdoesnoharm。
Youunderstandme？"
Marius，petrifiedandincapableofutteringasyllable，madeasignwithhisheadthathedidnot。
Theoldmanburstoutlaughing，winkedhisagedeye，gavehimaslapontheknee，staredhimfullinthefacewithamysteriousandbeamingair，andsaidtohim，withthetenderestofshrugsoftheshoulder:——
"Booby！makeheryourmistress。"
Mariusturnedpale。Hehadunderstoodnothingofwhathisgrandfatherhadjustsaid。ThistwaddleabouttheRueBlomet，Pamela，thebarracks，thelancer，hadpassedbeforeMariuslikeadissolvingview。
NothingofallthatcouldbearanyreferencetoCosette，whowasalily。Thegoodmanwaswanderinginhismind。ButthiswanderingterminatedinwordswhichMariusdidunderstand，andwhichwereamortalinsulttoCosette。Thosewords，"makeheryourmistress，"
enteredtheheartofthestrictyoungmanlikeasword。
Herose，pickeduphishatwhichlayonthefloor，andwalkedtothedoorwithafirm，assuredstep。Thereheturnedround，boweddeeplytohisgrandfather，raisedhisheaderectagain，andsaid:——
"Fiveyearsagoyouinsultedmyfather；to—dayyouhaveinsultedmywife。Iasknothingmoreofyou，sir。Farewell。"
FatherGillenormand，utterlyconfounded，openedhismouth，extendedhisarms，triedtorise，andbeforehecouldutteraword，thedoorclosedoncemore，andMariushaddisappeared。
Theoldmanremainedforseveralminutesmotionlessandasthoughstruckbylightning，withoutthepowertospeakorbreathe，asthoughaclenchedfistgraspedhisthroat。Atlasthetorehimselffromhisarm—chair，ran，sofarasamancanrunatninety—one，tothedoor，openedit，andcried:——
"Help！Help！"
Hisdaughtermadeherappearance，thenthedomestics。Hebeganagain，withapitifulrattle:"Runafterhim！Bringhimback！WhathaveI
donetohim？Heismad！Heisgoingaway！Ah！myGod！Ah！myGod！
Thistimehewillnotcomeback！"
Hewenttothewindowwhichlookedoutonthestreet，threwitopenwithhisagedandpalsiedhands，leanedoutmorethanhalf—way，whileBasqueandNicoletteheldhimbehind，andshouted:——
"Marius！Marius！Marius！Marius！"
ButMariuscouldnolongerhearhim，forattha
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