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〃It appears that there is in a convent in Paris an excellent gardener； who is also a holy man； named Fauvent。〃 Nothing of this triumph reached Fauchelevent in his hut； he went on grafting； weeding； and covering up his melon beds； without in the least suspecting his excellences and his sanctity。 Neither did he suspect his glory； any more than a Durham or Surrey bull whose portrait is published in the London Illustrated News； with this inscription：
〃Bull which carried off the prize at the Cattle Show。〃
BOOK EIGHTH。CEMETERIES TAKE THAT WHICH IS MITTED THEM
CHAPTER IX
CLOISTERED
Cosette continued to hold her tongue in the convent。
It was quite natural that Cosette should think herself Jean Valjean's daughter。
Moreover； as she knew nothing； she could say nothing； and then； she would not have said anything in any case。
As we have just observed； nothing trains children to silence like unhappiness。 Cosette had suffered so much； that she feared everything； even to speak or to breathe。
A single word had so often brought down an avalanche upon her。
She had hardly begun to regain her confidence since she had been with Jean Valjean。
She speedily became accustomed to the convent。
Only she regretted Catherine； but she dared not say so。
Once； however； she did say to Jean Valjean： 〃Father； if I had known； I would have brought her away with me。〃
Cosette had been obliged； on being a scholar in the convent； to don the garb of the pupils of the house。
Jean Valjean succeeded in getting them to restore to him the garments which she laid aside。 This was the same mourning suit which he had made her put on when she had quitted the Thenardiers' inn。
It was not very threadbare even now。 Jean Valjean locked up these garments； plus the stockings and the shoes； with a quantity of camphor and all the aromatics in which convents abound； in a little valise which he found means of procuring。 He set this valise on a chair near his bed； and he always carried the key about his person。
〃Father；〃 Cosette asked him one day； 〃what is there in that box which smells so good？〃
Father Fauchelevent received other repense for his good action； in addition to the glory which we just mentioned； and of which he knew nothing； in the first place it made him happy； next； he had much less work； since it was shared。
ly； as he was very fond of snuff； he found the presence of M。 Madeleine an advantage； in that he used three times as much as he had done previously； and that in an infinitely more luxurious manner； seeing that M。 Madeleine paid for it。
The nuns did not adopt the name of Ultime； they called Jean Valjean the other Fauvent。
If these holy women had possessed anything of Javert's glance； they would eventually have noticed that when there was any errand to be done outside in the behalf of the garden； it was always the elder Fauchelevent； the old； the infirm； the lame man； who went； and never the other； but whether it is that eyes constantly fixed on God know not how to spy； or whether they were； by preference； occupied in keeping watch on each other； they paid no heed to this。
Moreover； it was well for Jean Valjean that he kept close and did not stir out。
Javert watched the quarter for more than a month。
This convent was for Jean Valjean like an island surrounded by gulfs。
Henceforth； those four walls constituted his world。 He saw enough of the sky there to enable him to preserve his serenity； and Cosette enough to remain happy。
A very sweet life began for him。
He inhabited the old hut at the end of the garden； in pany with Fauchelevent。
This hovel； built of old rubbish； which was still in existence in 1845； was posed； as the reader already knows； of three chambers； all of which were utterly bare and had nothing beyond the walls。
The principal one had been given up； by force； for Jean Valjean had opposed it in vain； to M。 Madeleine； by Father Fauchelevent。
The walls of this chamber had for ornament； in addition to the two nails whereon to hang the knee…cap and the basket； a Royalist bank…note of '93； applied to the wall over the chimney…piece； and of which the following is an exact facsimile：
｛GRAPHIC HERE｝
This specimen of Vendean paper money had been nailed to the wall by the preceding gardener； an old Chouan； who had died in the convent； and whose place Fauchelevent had taken。
Jean Valjean worked in the garden every day and made himself very useful。 He had formerly been a pruner of trees； and he gladly found himself a gardener once more。
It will be remembered that he knew all sorts of secrets and receipts for agriculture。
He turned these to advantage。 Almost all the trees in the orchard were ungrafted； and wild。 He budded them and made them produce excellent fruit。
Cosette had permission to pass an hour with him every day。 As the sisters were melancholy and he was kind； the child made parisons and adored him。
At the appointed hour she flew to the hut。 When she entered the lowly cabin； she filled it with paradise。 Jean Valjean blossomed out and felt his happiness increase with the happiness which he afforded Cosette。
The joy which we inspire has this charming property； that； far from growing meagre； like all reflections； it returns to us more radiant than ever。 At recreation hours； Jean Valjean watched her running and playing in the distance； and he distinguished her laugh from that of the rest。
For Cosette laughed now。
Cosette's face had even undergone a change； to a certain extent。 The gloom had disappeared from it。
A smile is the same as sunshine； it banishes winter from the human countenance。
Recreation over； when Cosette went into the house again； Jean Valjean gazed at the windows of her class…room； and at night he rose to look at the windows of her dormitory。
God has his own ways； moreover； the convent contributed； like Cosette； to uphold and plete the Bishop's work in Jean Valjean。
It is certain that virtue adjoins pride on one side。
A bridge built by the devil exists there。
Jean Valjean had been； unconsciously； perhaps； tolerably near that side and that bridge； when Providence cast his lot in the convent of the Petit…Picpus； so long as he had pared himself only to the Bishop； he had regarded himself as unworthy and had remained humble； but for some time past he had been paring himself to men in general； and pride was beginning to spring up。 Who knows？
He might have ended by returning very gradually to hatred。
The convent stopped him on that downward path。
This was the second place of captivity which he had seen。 In his youth； in what had been for him the beginning of his life； and later on； quite recently again； he had beheld another； a frightful place； a terrible place； whose severities had always appeared to him the iniquity of justice； and the crime of the law。 Now； after the galleys； he saw the cloister； and when he meditated how he had formed a part of the galleys； and that he now； so to speak； was a spectator of the cloister； he confronted the two in his own mind with anxiety。
Sometimes he crossed his arms and lean