Victor Hugo - The Man Who Laughs - Cosmopolitan University 2

est. After all, you cannot be expected to know what it is to rupture a
blood-vessel. I should be easy if you were easy. My child, do something
for me as well. If he picked you up, I took you in. You will make me
ill. That is wrong. You must calm yourself, and go to sleep. All will
come right. I give you my word of honour, all will come right. Besides,
it is very fine weather. The night might have been made on purpose.
To-morrow we shall be at Rotterdam, which is a city in Holland, at the
mouth of the Meuse."
"Father," said the voice, "look here; when two beings have always been
together from infancy, their state should not be disturbed, or death
must come, and it cannot be otherwise. I love you all the same, but I
feel that I am no longer altogether with you, although I am as yet not
altogether with him."
"Come! try to sleep," repeated Ursus.
The voice answered,--
"I shall have sleep enough soon."
Ursus replied, in trembling tones,--
"I tell you that we are going to Holland, to Rotterdam, which is a
city."
"Father," continued the voice, "I am not ill; if you are anxious about
that, you may rest easy. I have no fever. I am rather hot; it is nothing
more."
Ursus stammered out,--
"At the mouth of the Meuse--"
"I am quite well, father; but look here! I feel that I am going to die!"
"Do nothing so foolish," said Ursus. And he added, "Above all, God
forbid she should have a shock!"
There was a silence. Suddenly Ursus cried out,--
"What are you doing? Why are you getting up? Lie down again, I implore
of you."
Gwynplaine shivered, and stretched out his head.
CHAPTER III.
PARADISE REGAINED BELOW.
He saw Dea. She had just raised herself up on the mattress. She had on a
long white dress, carefully closed, and showing only the delicate form
of her neck. The sleeves covered her arms; the folds, her feet. The