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The poor child found herself in the dark。 She plunged into it。
Only； as a certain emotion overcame her； she made as much motion as possible with the handle of the bucket as she walked along。
This made a noise which afforded her pany。
The further she went； the denser the darkness became。
There was no one in the streets。
However； she did encounter a woman； who turned around on seeing her； and stood still； muttering between her teeth： 〃Where can that child be going？
Is it a werewolf child？〃
Then the woman recognized Cosette。
〃Well；〃 said she； 〃it's the Lark！〃
In this manner Cosette traversed the labyrinth of tortuous and deserted streets which terminate in the village of Montfermeil on the side of Chelles。
So long as she had the houses or even the walls only on both sides of her path； she proceeded with tolerable boldness。
From time to time she caught the flicker of a candle through the crack of a shutterthis was light and life； there were people there； and it reassured her。
But in proportion as she advanced； her pace slackened mechanically； as it were。 When she had passed the corner of the last house； Cosette paused。 It had been hard to advance further than the last stall； it became impossible to proceed further than the last house。 She set her bucket on the ground； thrust her hand into her hair； and began slowly to scratch her head；a gesture peculiar to children when terrified and undecided what to do。
It was no longer Montfermeil； it was the open fields。
Black and desert space was before her。 She gazed in despair at that darkness； where there was no longer any one； where there were beasts； where there were spectres； possibly。 She took a good look； and heard the beasts walking on the grass； and she distinctly saw spectres moving in the trees。
Then she seized her bucket again； fear had lent her audacity。
〃Bah！〃 said she； 〃I will tell him that there was no more water！〃
And she resolutely re…entered Montfermeil。
Hardly had she gone a hundred paces when she paused and began to scratch her head again。
Now it was the Thenardier who appeared to her； with her hideous； hyena mouth； and wrath flashing in her eyes。 The child cast a melancholy glance before her and behind her。 What was she to do？
What was to bee of her？
Where was she to go？ In front of her was the spectre of the Thenardier； behind her all the phantoms of the night and of the forest。
It was before the Thenardier that she recoiled。
She resumed her path to the spring； and began to run。
She emerged from the village； she entered the forest at a run； no longer looking at or listening to anything。 She only paused in her course when her breath failed her； but she did not halt in her advance。
She went straight before her in desperation。
As she ran she felt like crying。
The nocturnal quivering of the forest surrounded her pletely。
She no longer thought； she no longer saw。
The immensity of night was facing this tiny creature。
On the one hand； all shadow； on the other； an atom。
It was only seven or eight minutes' walk from the edge of the woods to the spring。
Cosette knew the way； through having gone over it many times in daylight。
Strange to say； she did not get lost。 A remnant of instinct guided her vaguely。
But she did not turn her eyes either to right or to left； for fear of seeing things in the branches and in the brushwood。
In this manner she reached the spring。
It was a narrow； natural basin； hollowed out by the water in a clayey soil； about two feet deep； surrounded with moss and with those tall； crimped grasses which are called Henry IV。's frills； and paved with several large stones。
A brook ran out of it； with a tranquil little noise。
Cosette did not take time to breathe。
It was very dark； but she was in the habit of ing to this spring。
She felt with her left hand in the dark for a young oak which leaned over the spring； and which usually served to support her； found one of its branches； clung to it； bent down； and plunged the bucket in the water。 She was in a state of such violent excitement that her strength was trebled。
While thus bent over； she did not notice that the pocket of her apron had emptied itself into the spring。
The fifteen…sou piece fell into the water。
Cosette neither saw nor heard it fall。 She drew out the bucket nearly full； and set it on the grass。
That done； she perceived that she was worn out with fatigue。 She would have liked to set out again at once； but the effort required to fill the bucket had been such that she found it impossible to take a step。
She was forced to sit down。
She dropped on the grass； and remained crouching there。
She shut her eyes； then she opened them again； without knowing why； but because she could not do otherwise。
The agitated water in the bucket beside her was describing circles which resembled tin serpents。
Overhead the sky was covered with vast black clouds； which were like masses of smoke。
The tragic mask of shadow seemed to bend vaguely over the child。
Jupiter was setting in the depths。
The child stared with bewildered eyes at this great star； with which she was unfamiliar； and which terrified her。
The planet was； in fact； very near the horizon and was traversing a dense layer of mist which imparted to it a horrible ruddy hue。
The mist； gloomily empurpled； magnified the star。
One would have called it a luminous wound。
A cold wind was blowing from the plain。
The forest was dark； not a leaf was moving； there were none of the vague； fresh gleams of summertide。
Great boughs uplifted themselves in frightful wise。 Slender and misshapen bushes whistled in the clearings。
The tall grasses undulated like eels under the north wind。
The nettles seemed to twist long arms furnished with claws in search of prey。 Some bits of dry heather； tossed by the breeze； flew rapidly by； and had the air of fleeing in terror before something which was ing after。 On all sides there were lugubrious stretches。
The darkness was bewildering。
Man requires light。
Whoever buries himself in the opposite of day feels his heart contract。
When the eye sees black； the heart sees trouble。
In an eclipse in the night； in the sooty opacity； there is anxiety even for the stoutest of hearts。 No one walks alone in the forest at night without trembling。 Shadows and treestwo formidable densities。
A chimerical reality appears in the indistinct depths。
The inconceivable is outlined a few paces distant from you with a spectral clearness。 One beholds floating； either in space or in one's own brain； one knows not what vague and intangible thing； like the dreams of sleeping flowers。
There are fierce attitudes on the horizon。 One inhales the effluvia of the great black void。
One is afraid to glance behind him； yet desirous of doing so。
The cavities of night； things grown haggard； taciturn profiles which vanish when one advances； obscure dishevelments； irritated tufts； livid pools； the lugubrious reflected in the funereal； the sepulchral immensity of silence； unknown but possible beings； bendings of mysterious branches； alarming torsos of trees； long handfuls of quivering plants； against all this one has no protection。
There is no hardihood which does not shudder and which does not feel the vicinity of anguish。 One is conscious of something hideous； as though one's soul were being amalgamated with the darkness。
This penetration of the shadows is indescribably sinister in the case of a child。
Forests are apocalypses； and the beating of the wings of a tiny soul produces a sound of agony beneath their monstrous vault。
Without understanding her sensations； Cosette was conscious that she was seized upon by that black enormity of nature； it was no longer terror alone which was gaining possession of her； it was something more terrible even than terror； she shivered。 There are no words to express the strangeness of that shiver which chilled her to the very bottom of her heart； her eye grew wild； she thought she felt that she sh