Cosette takes care of Valjean when he returns home from his confrontation with the Thenardiers with a burn on his arm. He languishes with fever for over a month. At his urging, she spends time walking alone in the walled garden behind the house.
Valjean also walks alone once he is recovered from his wound. One day
an adventure takes place which is observed by little Gavroche, the cast-off
son of the Thenardiers. Gavroche hears an exchange between Father Mabeuf
and his housekeeper in which she complains about the overdue rent and
lack of food in the house. A short time later another old man (Valjean)
appears; he is followed (though unaware) by Montparnasse. Montparnasse
attacks Valjean, but is overpowered himself instead and is subjected to
a lengthy lecture by Valjean. Valjean then gives Montparnasse his purse.
While the robber looks after his benefactor in shock, Gavroche sneaks
up on him and steals the purse from his pocket. He then tosses the purse
over the wall where it lands at the feet of M. Mabeuf.
Gavroche has good intentions and is unselfish in spite of his own destitute
condition. However, the gesture is not received as a gift. Instead Mabeuf
takes the wallet to the police as an item that has been lost. Valjean
also comes across as unnecessarily generous-which he is in every way except
that which concerns Cosette. Cosette herself seems happier and has contentedly
devoted herself to Valjean's recovery. For a short time, their relationship
seems almost as secure as it once was. Valjean revels in her attentions
while Cosette is happy simply to be able to walk in the garden alone.
Cosette finds a mysterious stone on the bench beside the gate in her
garden. Under it there is a lengthy letter filled with comments and musings
on love. The letter is unsigned, but Cosette knows that it is from Marius,
and it reawakens her feelings of love. That evening, she returns to the
garden and finds him waiting for her. They talk, tell each other their
names and become completely absorbed in each other.
Marius' letter resembles poetry in a rather clumsy way. It rambles on
not unlike something by Sir Philip Sydney, and yet really says nothing.
The two spend the coming evenings together, but never discover each other's
real identities or backgrounds. Valjean for the moment seems unaware of
the proximity of Marius and is simply content to see Cosette return to
her cheerful, smiling self. Valjean does not have the experience himself
to recognize the signs of a young girl in love.
We learn that two more children had been born to the Thenardiers who
gave them to a woman named Magnon. Magnon was collecting monthly payments
from Gillenormand because she had claimed that her own two children where
his. When her children die, she needs a replacement in order to continue
receiving the funds. Since Gillenormand doesn't see or question her, she
is able to take the Thenardier children as a substitute. The two little
boys are cared for well enough until Magnon is arrested. Then they find
themselves on the street without food or shelter. Gavroche finds them,
although he doesn't know they are his brothers. He finds some bread for
them to eat and gives them shelter from the storm inside his room, a
giant, hollow elephant statue near the Bastille. While the children sleep,
Gavroche joins Montparnasse and some other thieves who help Thenardier
escape from prison.
Hugo focuses again on the children. Curiously enough, those of the story
seem to be able to associate with criminal elements, take advantage of
certain aspects of it to get what they want or need, and yet come away
from it untainted. He said in an earlier chapter that the children are
the heart and soul of Paris. That may be an exaggeration, but they are
certainly able to live on the edge, maintaining contact with both the
underworld and the decent citizens. Consequently, the children of the
streets often had access to information that escaped adults. Gavroche
receives no real thanks for having helped his father escape.
An explanation of argot, the street language of the gamins and criminals.
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
>.