Speak, so that I may hear thy voice."
Marius gazed at the old man in amazement.
Cosette uttered a heartrending cry.
"Father! my father! you will live.
You are going to live.
I insist upon your living, do you hear?"
Jean Valjean raised his head towards her with adoration.
"Oh! yes, forbid me to die.
Who knows?
Perhaps I shall obey.
I was on the verge of dying when you came.
That stopped me, it seemed to me that I was born again."
"You are full of strength and life," cried Marius.
"Do you imagine that a person can die like this?
You have had sorrow, you shall have no more.
It is I who ask your forgiveness, and on my knees!
You are going to live, and to live with us, and to live a long time.
We take possession of you once more.
There are two of us here who will henceforth have no other thought than your happiness."
"You see," resumed Cosette, all bathed in tears, "that Marius says that you shall not die."
Jean Valjean continued to smile.
"Even if you were to take possession of me, Monsieur Pontmercy, would that make me other than I am?⑧本⑧作⑧品⑧由⑧思⑧兔⑧在⑧線⑧閱⑧讀⑧網⑧友⑧整⑧理⑧上⑧傳⑧
No, God has thought like you and myself, and he does not change his mind; it is useful for me to go.
Death is a good arrangement.
God knows better than we what we need.