It seemed to him that he had in his heart all the songs of the birds that he was listening to； and all the bits of blue sky of which he caught glimpses through the leaves of the trees。
He went straight to 〃his alley；〃 and when he reached the end of it he perceived； still on the same bench； that well…known couple。 Only； when he approached； it certainly was the same man； but it seemed to him that it was no longer the same girl。
The person whom he now beheld was a tall and beautiful creature； possessed of all the most charming lines of a woman at the precise moment when they are still bined with all the most ingenuous graces of the child； a pure and fugitive moment； which can be expressed only by these two words； 〃fifteen years。〃
She had wonderful brown hair； shaded with threads of gold； a brow that seemed made of marble； cheeks that seemed made of rose…leaf； a pale flush； an agitated whiteness； an exquisite mouth； whence smiles darted like sunbeams； and words like music； a head such as Raphael would have given to Mary； set upon a neck that Jean Goujon would have attributed to a Venus。
And； in order that nothing might be lacking to this bewitching face； her nose was not handsome it was pretty； neither straight nor curved； neither Italian nor Greek； it was the Parisian nose； that is to say； spiritual； delicate； irregular； pure；which drives painters to despair； and charms poets。
When Marius passed near her； he could not see her eyes； which were constantly lowered。
He saw only her long chestnut lashes； permeated with shadow and modesty。
This did not prevent the beautiful child from smiling as she listened to what the white…haired old man was saying to her； and nothing could be more fascinating than that fresh smile； bined with those drooping eyes。
For a moment； Marius thought that she was another daughter of the same man； a sister of the former； no doubt。
But when the invariable habit of his stroll brought him； for the second time； near the bench； and he had examined her attentively； he recognized her as the same。 In six months the little girl had bee a young maiden； that was all。 Nothing is more frequent than this phenomenon。
There is a moment when girls blossom out in the twinkling of an eye； and bee roses all at once。
One left them children but yesterday； today； one finds them disquieting to the feelings。
This child had not only grown； she had bee idealized。 As three days in April suffice to cover certain trees with flowers； six months had sufficed to clothe her with beauty。
Her April had arrived。
One sometimes sees people； who； poor and mean； seem to wake up； pass suddenly from indigence to luxury； indulge in expenditures of all sorts； and bee dazzling； prodigal； magnificent； all of a sudden。
That is the result of having pocketed an ine； a note fell due yesterday。
The young girl had received her quarterly ine。
And then； she was no longer the school…girl with her felt hat； her merino gown； her scholar's shoes； and red hands； taste had e to her with beauty； she was a well…dressed person； clad with a sort of rich and simple elegance； and without affectation。 She wore a dress of black damask； a cape of the same material； and a bonnet of white crape。
Her white gloves displayed the delicacy of the hand which toyed with the carved； Chinese ivory handle of a parasol； and her silken shoe outlined the smallness of her foot。 When one passed near her； her whole toilette exhaled a youthful and penetrating perfume。
As for the man； he was the same as usual。
The second time that Marius approached her； the young girl raised her eyelids； her eyes were of a deep； celestial blue； but in that veiled azure； there was； as yet； nothing but the glance of a child。 She looked at Marius indifferently； as she would have stared at the brat running beneath the sycamores； or the marble vase which cast a shadow on the bench； and Marius； on his side； continued his promenade； and thought about something else。
He passed near the bench where the young girl sat； five or six times； but without even turning his eyes in her direction。
On the following days； he returned； as was his wont； to the Luxembourg； as usual； he found there 〃the father and daughter；〃 but he paid no further attention to them。
He thought no more about the girl now that she was beautiful than he had when she was homely。 He passed very near the bench where she sat； because such was his habit。
BOOK SIXTH。THE CONJUNCTION OF TWO STARS
CHAPTER III
EFFECT OF THE SPRING
One day； the air was warm； the Luxembourg was inundated with light and shade； the sky was as pure as though the angels had washed it that morning； the sparrows were giving vent to little twitters in the depths of the chestnut…trees。 Marius had thrown open his whole soul to nature； he was not thinking of anything； he simply lived and breathed； he passed near the bench； the young girl raised her eyes to him； the two glances met。
What was there in the young girl's glance on this occasion？ Marius could not have told。
There was nothing and there was everything。 It was a strange flash。
She dropped her eyes； and he pursued his way。
What he had just seen was no longer the ingenuous and simple eye of a child； it was a mysterious gulf which had half opened； then abruptly closed again。
There es a day when the young girl glances in this manner。 Woe to him who chances to be there！
That first gaze of a soul which does not； as yet； know itself； is like the dawn in the sky。
It is the awakening of something radiant and strange。
Nothing can give any idea of the dangerous charm of that unexpected gleam； which flashes suddenly and vaguely forth from adorable shadows； and which is posed of all the innocence of the present； and of all the passion of the future。 It is a sort of undecided tenderness which reveals itself by chance； and which waits。
It is a snare which the innocent maiden sets unknown to herself； and in which she captures hearts without either wishing or knowing it。
It is a virgin looking like a woman。
It is rare that a profound revery does not spring from that glance； where it falls。
All purities and all candors meet in that celestial and fatal gleam which； more than all the best…planned tender glances of coquettes； possesses the magic power of causing the sudden blossoming； in the depths of the soul； of that sombre flower； impregnated with perfume and with poison； which is called love。
That evening； on his return to his garret； Marius cast his eyes over his garments； and perceived； for the first time； that he had been so slovenly； indecorous； and inconceivably stupid as to go for his walk in the Luxembourg with his 〃every…day clothes；〃 that is to say； with a hat battered near the band； coarse carter's boots； black trousers which showed white at the knees； and a black coat which was pale at the elbows。
BOOK SIXTH。THE CONJUNCTION OF TWO STARS
CHAPTER IV
BEGINNING OF A GREAT MALADY
On the following day； at the accustomed hour； Marius drew from his wardrobe his new coat； his new trousers； his new hat； and his new boots； he clothed himself