{"chapter_no":"33","chapter_title":"Cosette Side by Side with the Stranger in the Dark","book_id":"3","book_name":"Springville","subchapter_no":"0","page_no":"540","page_number":"1","verses_count":0,"total_pages":4,"page_content":"

<\/span><\/p>

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Chapter 33<\/span><\/p>

Cosette Side by Side with <\/span><\/h1><\/p>

the Stranger in the Dark<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The story of the young Cosette from <\/i>Les Miserables continued—Welcome help arrives <\/i>to Cosette in her<\/i> <\/i>
return<\/i> journey<\/i> to the <\/i>i<\/i>nn.<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

The man spoke in a voice that was grave and almost bass. <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"My child, what you are carrying is very heavy for you.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Cosette raised her head and replied:—<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Yes, sir.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Give it to me,\" said the man; <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"I will carry it for you.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Cosette let go of the bucket-handle. The man walked along beside her. <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"It really is very heavy,\" he muttered between his teeth. <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Who sent you at such an hour to get water in the forest?\"<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"It was Madame Thenardier.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The man resumed, in a voice which he strove to render indifferent, but in which there
was, nevertheless, a singular tremor:— <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"What does your Madame Thenardier do?\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"She is my mistress,\" said the child. \"She keeps the inn.\"<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"The inn?\" said the man.<\/i><\/p>

<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Well, I am going to lodge there to-night. Show me the way.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"We are on the way there,\" said the child. <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The man walked tolerably fast. Cosette followed him without difficulty. She no longer felt
any fatigue. From time to time she raised her eyes towards the m<\/i>an, with a sort of tranquillity <\/i>
and an indescribable confidence. She had never been taught to turn to Providence and to pray;
nevertheless, she felt within her something which resembled hope and joy, and which mounted
towards heaven. Several minutes elapsed. The man resumed:—<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Is there no servant in Madame Thenardier's house?\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"No, sir.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Are you alone there?\"<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Yes, sir.\" Another pause ensued. <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Cosette lifted up her voice:— \"That is to say, there are two little girls.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"What little girls?\"<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Ponine and Zelma.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

This was the way the child simplified the romantic names so dear to the female
Thenardier. <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Who are Ponine and Zelma?\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"They are Madame Thenardier's young ladies; her daughters, as you would say.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"And what do those girls do?\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Oh!\" said the child, \"they have beautiful dolls; things with gold in them, all full of
affairs. They play; they amuse themselves.\"<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"All day long?\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Yes, sir.\"<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"And you?\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"I? I work.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"All day long?\" <\/i><\/p>

<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The child raised her great eyes, in which hung a tear, which was not visible because of
the darkness, and replied gently:—<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Yes, sir.\"<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

After an interval of silence she went on:— \"Sometimes, when I have finished my work and
they let me, I amuse myself, too.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"How do you amuse yourself?\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"In the best way I can. They let me alone; but I have not many playthings. Ponine and
Zelma will not let me play with their dolls. I have only a little lead sword, no longer than that.\"<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The child held up her tiny finger. <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"And it will not cut?\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Yes, sir,\" said the child; \"it cuts salad and the heads of flies.\"<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

They reached the village. Cosette guided the stranger through the streets. They passed
the bakeshop, but Cosette did not think of the bread which she had been ordered to fetch. The
man had ceased to ply her with questions, and now preserved a gloomy silence.<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

When they had left <\/i>the Church<\/i> behind them, the man, on perceiving all the open-air
booths, asked Cosette:— <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"So there is a fair going on here?\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"No, sir; it is Christmas.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

As they approached the tavern, Cosette timidly touched his arm:— <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Monsieur?\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"What, my child?\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"We are quite near the house.\" <\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Well?\"<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Will you let me take my bucket now?\"<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Why?\"<\/i><\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

\"If Madame sees that <\/i>someone<\/i> has carried it for me, she will beat me.\"<\/i><\/p>

<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

The man handed her the bucket. An instant later they were at the tavern door.<\/i><\/span><\/p>

<\/p>"}