She opened her eyes thoroughly, and saw Jean Valjean's smiling face.
"Ah, it is true," the child said. "Good-morning, sir.
Children accept at once and familiarly joy and happiness, for they are themselves by nature happiness and joy. Cosette saw Catherine at the foot of her bed, caught her up, and while playing, asked Jean Valjean a hundred questions,—"Where was she? Was Paris large? Was Madame Thénardier a long way off, and would she never return?" etc. etc. etc. All at once she exclaimed, "How pretty it is here!"
It was a frightful hole, but she felt herself free.
"Must I sweep?" she at length continued.
"Play," said Jean Valjean.
The day passed in this way; and Cosette, not feeling any anxiety at understanding nothing, was inexpressibly happy between her doll and this good man.