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Why？
When he thought on these things； all that was within him was lost in amazement before this mystery of sublimity。
In these meditations； his pride vanished。
He scrutinized his own heart in all manner of ways； he felt his pettiness； and many a time he wept。
All that had entered into his life for the last six months had led him back towards the Bishop's holy injunctions； Cosette through love； the convent through humility。
Sometimes at eventide； in the twilight； at an hour when the garden was deserted； he could be seen on his knees in the middle of the walk which skirted the chapel； in front of the window through which he had gazed on the night of his arrival； and turned towards the spot where； as he knew； the sister was making reparation； prostrated in prayer。 Thus he prayed as he knelt before the sister。
It seemed as though he dared not kneel directly before God。
Everything that surrounded him； that peaceful garden； those fragrant flowers； those children who uttered joyous cries； those grave and simple women； that silent cloister； slowly permeated him； and little by little； his soul became pounded of silence like the cloister； of perfume like the flowers； of simplicity like the women； of joy like the children。
And then he reflected that these had been two houses of God which had received him in succession at two critical moments in his life：
the first； when all doors were closed and when human society rejected him； the second； at a moment when human society had again set out in pursuit of him； and when the galleys were again yawning； and that； had it not been for the first； he should have relapsed into crime； and had it not been for the second； into torment。
His whole heart melted in gratitude； and he loved more and more。
Many years passed in this manner； Cosette was growing up。
＇The end of Volume II。 〃Cosette〃＇
BOOK FIRST。PARIS STUDIED IN ITS ATOM
CHAPTER I
PARVULUS
Paris has a child； and the forest has a bird； the bird is called the sparrow； the child is called the gamin。
Couple these two ideas which contain； the one all the furnace； the other all the dawn； strike these two sparks together； Paris； childhood； there leaps out from them a little being。
Homuncio； Plautus would say。
This little being is joyous。
He has not food every day； and he goes to the play every evening； if he sees good。
He has no shirt on his body； no shoes on his feet； no roof over his head； he is like the flies of heaven； who have none of these things。 He is from seven to thirteen years of age； he lives in bands； roams the streets； lodges in the open air； wears an old pair of trousers of his father's； which descend below his heels； an old hat of some other father； which descends below his ears； a single suspender of yellow listing； he runs； lies in wait； rummages about； wastes time； blackens pipes； swears like a convict； haunts the wine…shop； knows thieves； calls gay women thou； talks slang； sings obscene songs； and has no evil in his heart。 This is because he has in his heart a pearl； innocence； and pearls are not to be dissolved in mud。
So long as man is in his childhood； God wills that he shall be innocent。
If one were to ask that enormous city：
〃What is this？〃 she would reply： 〃It is my little one。〃
BOOK FIRST。PARIS STUDIED IN ITS ATOM
CHAPTER II
SOME OF HIS PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTICS
The gaminthe street Arabof Paris is the dwarf of the giant。
Let us not exaggerate； this cherub of the gutter sometimes has a shirt； but； in that case； he owns but one； he sometimes has shoes； but then they have no soles； he sometimes has a lodging； and he loves it； for he finds his mother there； but he prefers the street； because there he finds liberty。
He has his own games； his own bits of mischief； whose foundation consists of hatred for the bourgeois； his peculiar metaphors：
to be dead is to eat dandelions by the root； his own occupations； calling hackney…coaches； letting down carriage…steps； establishing means of transit between the two sides of a street in heavy rains； which he calls making the bridge of arts； crying discourses pronounced by the authorities in favor of the French people； cleaning out the cracks in the pavement； he has his own coinage； which is posed of all the little morsels of worked copper which are found on the public streets。 This curious money； which receives the name of loquesragshas an invariable and well…regulated currency in this little Bohemia of children。
ly； he has his own fauna； which he observes attentively in the corners； the lady…bird； the death's…head plant…louse； the daddy…long…legs； 〃the devil；〃 a black insect； which menaces by twisting about its tail armed with two horns。
He has his fabulous monster； which has scales under its belly； but is not a lizard； which has pustules on its back； but is not a toad； which inhabits the nooks of old lime…kilns and wells that have run dry； which is black； hairy； sticky； which crawls sometimes slowly； sometimes rapidly； which has no cry； but which has a look； and is so terrible that no one has ever beheld it； he calls this monster 〃the deaf thing。〃
The search for these 〃deaf things〃 among the stones is a joy of formidable nature。
Another pleasure consists in suddenly prying up a paving…stone； and taking a look at the wood…lice。 Each region of Paris is celebrated for the interesting treasures which are to be found there。
There are ear…wigs in the timber…yards of the Ursulines； there are millepeds in the Pantheon； there are tadpoles in the ditches of the Champs…de…Mars。
As far as sayings are concerned； this child has as many of them as Talleyrand。
He is no less cynical； but he is more honest。 He is endowed with a certain indescribable； unexpected joviality； he upsets the posure of the shopkeeper with his wild laughter。 He ranges boldly from high edy to farce。
A funeral passes by。
Among those who acpany the dead there is a doctor。
〃Hey there！〃 shouts some street Arab； 〃how long has it been customary for doctors to carry home their own work？〃
Another is in a crowd。
A grave man； adorned with spectacles and trinkets； turns round indignantly：
〃You good…for…nothing； you have seized my wife's waist！〃〃I； sir？
Search me！〃
BOOK FIRST。PARIS STUDIED IN ITS ATOM
CHAPTER III
HE IS AGREEABLE
In the evening； thanks to a few sous； which he always finds means to procure； the homuncio enters a theatre。
On crossing that magic threshold； he bees transfigured； he was the street Arab； he bees the titi。＇18＇ Theatres are a sort of ship turned upside down with the keel in the air。
It is in that keel that the titi huddle together。
The titi is to the gamin what the moth is to the larva； the same being endowed with wings and soaring。 It suffices for him to be there； with his radiance of happiness； with his power of enthusiasm and joy； with his hand…clapping； which resembles a clapping of wings； to confer on that narrow； dark； fetid； sordid； unhealthy； hideous； abominable keel； the name of Paradise。
＇18＇ Chicken：
slang allusion to the noise made in calling poultry。