He still lived in the Rue de l’Homme Armé, because he could not make up his mind to remove to a distance from the quarter where Cosette dwelt.

At first, he only remained a few minutes with Cosette, and then went away.

Little by little he acquired the habit of making his visits less brief. One would have said that he was taking advantage of the authorization of the days which were lengthening, he arrived earlier and departed later.

One day Cosette chanced to say “father” to him. A flash of joy illuminated Jean Valjean’s melancholy old countenance. He caught her up: “Say Jean.”⁠—“Ah! truly,” she replied with a burst of laughter, “Monsieur Jean.”⁠—“That is right,” said he. And he turned aside so that she might not see him wipe his eyes.

They Recall the Garden of the Rue Plumet