Chapter 6
Marius paced the room that he shared with Courfeyrac. His speech was turned over on the table next to him as he tried to beat the words into his head. His speech was to be made tomorrow, and he needed to make it perfect. He had studied the passion and energy that Enjolras displayed when speaking on the street, and he decided that was how he wanted his speech to be presented.
Eponine had given him some views that many people of France held as their own, which was a huge asset. The whole point of the speech was to attract people to join the ABC Society, which wanted to better France in many ways. He continued to pace, going over line after line.
"Marius, you've been in here for hours. You need a break."
"No, I need a miracle."
"A miracle I cannot provide. But a meal I can. My treat. Grab your coat."
The two friends walked to the restaurant just as the sun was setting. Marius remembered the times that the two had been through together. Courfeyrac had reserved Marius' spot on the list at the law school, which Courfeyrac insisted saved him from life as a lawyer. Courfeyrac had found Marius a job, and even provided him with some money. Marius knew that he owed Courfeyrac more than he could repay at the time, but his friend never asked for money and he always bore a smile.
"I've been meaning to ask you for a while, Marius. What's going on with Eponine?"
"I think that she would be able to give you a better insight to that than I would."
Courfeyrac chuckled while shaking his head. "No, no. You and Eponine."
"Nothing. We're friends."
"Just friends?"
"That's all."
"Even though you love her?"
"Even though I...love her."
"I thought so," said the man, looking pleased with his trick.
"But she doesn't love me, so it doesn't matter. The love is one-sided, and it can't be that way. Besides," said Marius, his tone changing. "I've met someone."
"You have?"
"Well, not met. I've seen her."
"Where? How many times?"
"Just once, yesterday on my way to the cafe. She was sitting with her father on a bench, and then they drove off in a carriage."
"Good of you to let her slip away."
"I didn't. She was there again today, so I had Eponine follow the carriage. She should be back soon."
Courfeyrac stopped and looked stupidly at the young lawyer. "You sent Eponine to find where this girl lives? Eponine?"
"She said she was glad to help."
"She doesn't mean that. She just can't say no to you."
"Eponine could say no to me anytime she wants to."
"Maybe we should tell her that," muttered Courfeyrac. " Hurry, or we'll get there too late."
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Eponine looked up and saw Marius walk in the next morning. His face shone with a smile, but she could see that his mind was not at ease. His speech would be made in a short time and then perhaps he could take a breath of fresh air. She had found out quite a lot about his mystery girl, but she concluded that it was the last thing Marius needed to know an hour before his speech.
She turned to look for her sister, and she saw her kissing Grantaire in the corner. That was all she needed to see, so she picked herself up and moved to where they were out of sight.
"Eponine, do you have anything that might calm me down? I'd ask our wine connoisseur, but he seems a bit...preoccupied at the moment."
"So I saw. Well, from what I've heard, Port is rather good at doing just that."
"No wine for him, Eponine. We can't have a drunkard making a speech."
"Port isn't wine, Enjolras," smiled Eponine sweetly.
"Nothing for him." Enjolras walked towards the door, noticed the drunk and Eponine's sister, rubbed his eyes, and made his way out the door.
"I guess water will do for now."
Three quarters of an hour later, Enjolras returned.
"Alright my friends. Marius is to make his speech in a moment, and we have some people coming in to hear it. Please be on your best behavior." Many people threw glances at Grantaire.
The room began to fill up, and Marius stood on a table, ready for anything. He looked out into the sea of familiar faces and strangers. Some were the well-to-do types, others were the oppressed. He cleared his throat, feeling more or less confident, and began to speak.
"Citizens, I must speak with you about our lives, our very liberty! It is at stake, and we must do something to keep it our own!"
Eponine stood with the rest of the crowd, but paid little attention. Marius had practiced in front of her the day before, and the ideas were pounded in her head as firmly as they were in Marius'. Her thoughts drifted to the girl that Marius had sent her to find out about. Much to the dissatisfaction of Azelma, she went as Marius had requested. She had only been able to find out the girl's name after she had followed the carriage nearly an hour away from the cafe. She had hidden in the shadows for a while until she heard someone come outside. She went to the gate and saw it was the girl. The girl had been hesitant, but told Eponine her name and that she was suppose to visit the square again the next day. Eponine had hinted to stop by the cafe, but she hadn't seen the girl yet.
As Marius got towards the end of his speech, he felt a sense of pride and fulfillment. He glanced around the room and saw that Enjolras, and many of his other friends, were very well pleased. He even noted that Azelma and Grantaire had paused from their eternal lip-lock to pay attention to the words being spoken. Suddenly, his eyes fixated on one person, the girl that he had sent Eponine to find. He was lucky that he had only a few words left, or else he might have been thrown off completely. Without blinking an eye, he stared at her, and heard applause. He had finished, and all the students made their way forward to congratulate him. Everyone began to leave the cafe, chattering with others about what they had just heard. Marius saw the girl get swept up in the crowd and leave the cafe.
"Brilliant, Marius!"
"We didn't know that it was in you!"
"You write better speeches then Enjolras!"
"Let's not get carried away."
"I propose a round!"
"Any excuse will do!"
Marius couldn't share in his friends' happiness now that the girl was as close as she was. He ran from the cafe and looked up and down the street. He ran to the bench, yet she wasn't there. He dejectedly went back to the cafe, where everyone was absorbed once again in their own activities. He went over to Eponine.
"Did you find her?"
"What's wrong, Marius?"
"Did you find her?"
"Why are you so excited?"
"She was here! Listening to my speech!"
"I didn't think she actually would," Eponine stated as if it meant nothing.
"You told her about it?"
"You didn't want me to? I thought that maybe she would like to hear your opinions on some things."
"What did you find?"
"Well, she lives at 55 Rue Plumet and..."
"Rue Plumet?"
"That's right. She'd only give me her name. I think she didn't believe me."
"And?" Marius was as anxious as ever. "What's her name?"
"My God, Marius."
"Eponine!"
"Cosette."
"Cosette?"
"Yes. If you want, I'll take you to Rue Plumet later tonight. But I doubt you'll last that long. Get your hat and we'll go."
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"Marius, you are not telling me that we came here to stand outside her house. You're going to go in."
"I can't, 'Ponine. What would I say?"
"'Hello, my name is Marius Pontmercy. Remember me? I was making the speech?' I have no clue."
"I'm sorry I dragged you out here, 'Ponine, but I can't go through with it." There were two reasons why Marius refused to meet the girl. One was that he didn't feel confident enough, and the second was Eponine.
"Marius, if you don't go in there, I will."
"Eponine..."
This thoughts were interrupted when the wind picked up, and the hat in his hand was blown up and over the wall.
"You better get it, that's your good hat."
"You say that as if you planned the wind, 'Ponine."
"Fate and nature work together."
"I'll remember that," said Marius as he climbed up and over the wall.
He found himself in a garden. Concluding that the hat couldn't go very far, he began looking in the bushes right next to the garden wall, but had no such luck. He heard a throat clear behind him, and there stood the girl. She stood with a book in one hand, and his hat in the other.
"I believe you are looking for this, Monsieur." She studied him as he took his hat from her. "You're that man, who made the speech in the cafe. It was brilliantly written and spoken."
"Speeches aren't what I take great pride in, but on occasion I do try. I believe my friend may have frightened you last night, in which event, I am sorry."
"Not frightened, Monsieur, just startled me. I wasn't expecting anyone to come inquiring about me. For since she is your friend, you must know my name, but I am afraid that I do not know yours."
"My name is Marius Pontmercy, and it is an honor to meet you at last, Mademoiselle." The looked at his surroundings. "These gardens are exquisite, and very well kept."
The girl blushed slightly. "I planted everything myself, as well as keep them healthy."
"I am much impressed. May I propose a tour of your gardens, if I may be so bold?"
"I would love to show you around, Monsieur."
"Marius will quite do."
"Marius," she said taking his arm.
Eponine stood on the other side of the wall, a sad smile stuck on her face, listening to every word that had been spoken. Marius had done it, and Eponine had helped him. So why didn't she feel any satisfaction? It hit her then that she still had feelings for Marius; she still loved him. She drew her legs up to her face as she pressed her back to the wall. She sat crying for a while, until she heard Marius' voice coming closer.
"Will you come to the square tomorrow?"
"At one o'clock. I'll try to get rid of Papa."
"I'll be waiting."
Marius climbed over the wall and saw Eponine.
"Ready to go back?"
"I've been ready," smiled Eponine taking to his side.
They walked together in silence, engaged in their thoughts. Marius was thinking about Cosette, while Eponine was thinking of the man who was walking next to her.
Marius paced the room that he shared with Courfeyrac. His speech was turned over on the table next to him as he tried to beat the words into his head. His speech was to be made tomorrow, and he needed to make it perfect. He had studied the passion and energy that Enjolras displayed when speaking on the street, and he decided that was how he wanted his speech to be presented.
Eponine had given him some views that many people of France held as their own, which was a huge asset. The whole point of the speech was to attract people to join the ABC Society, which wanted to better France in many ways. He continued to pace, going over line after line.
"Marius, you've been in here for hours. You need a break."
"No, I need a miracle."
"A miracle I cannot provide. But a meal I can. My treat. Grab your coat."
The two friends walked to the restaurant just as the sun was setting. Marius remembered the times that the two had been through together. Courfeyrac had reserved Marius' spot on the list at the law school, which Courfeyrac insisted saved him from life as a lawyer. Courfeyrac had found Marius a job, and even provided him with some money. Marius knew that he owed Courfeyrac more than he could repay at the time, but his friend never asked for money and he always bore a smile.
"I've been meaning to ask you for a while, Marius. What's going on with Eponine?"
"I think that she would be able to give you a better insight to that than I would."
Courfeyrac chuckled while shaking his head. "No, no. You and Eponine."
"Nothing. We're friends."
"Just friends?"
"That's all."
"Even though you love her?"
"Even though I...love her."
"I thought so," said the man, looking pleased with his trick.
"But she doesn't love me, so it doesn't matter. The love is one-sided, and it can't be that way. Besides," said Marius, his tone changing. "I've met someone."
"You have?"
"Well, not met. I've seen her."
"Where? How many times?"
"Just once, yesterday on my way to the cafe. She was sitting with her father on a bench, and then they drove off in a carriage."
"Good of you to let her slip away."
"I didn't. She was there again today, so I had Eponine follow the carriage. She should be back soon."
Courfeyrac stopped and looked stupidly at the young lawyer. "You sent Eponine to find where this girl lives? Eponine?"
"She said she was glad to help."
"She doesn't mean that. She just can't say no to you."
"Eponine could say no to me anytime she wants to."
"Maybe we should tell her that," muttered Courfeyrac. " Hurry, or we'll get there too late."
************************************************************************
Eponine looked up and saw Marius walk in the next morning. His face shone with a smile, but she could see that his mind was not at ease. His speech would be made in a short time and then perhaps he could take a breath of fresh air. She had found out quite a lot about his mystery girl, but she concluded that it was the last thing Marius needed to know an hour before his speech.
She turned to look for her sister, and she saw her kissing Grantaire in the corner. That was all she needed to see, so she picked herself up and moved to where they were out of sight.
"Eponine, do you have anything that might calm me down? I'd ask our wine connoisseur, but he seems a bit...preoccupied at the moment."
"So I saw. Well, from what I've heard, Port is rather good at doing just that."
"No wine for him, Eponine. We can't have a drunkard making a speech."
"Port isn't wine, Enjolras," smiled Eponine sweetly.
"Nothing for him." Enjolras walked towards the door, noticed the drunk and Eponine's sister, rubbed his eyes, and made his way out the door.
"I guess water will do for now."
Three quarters of an hour later, Enjolras returned.
"Alright my friends. Marius is to make his speech in a moment, and we have some people coming in to hear it. Please be on your best behavior." Many people threw glances at Grantaire.
The room began to fill up, and Marius stood on a table, ready for anything. He looked out into the sea of familiar faces and strangers. Some were the well-to-do types, others were the oppressed. He cleared his throat, feeling more or less confident, and began to speak.
"Citizens, I must speak with you about our lives, our very liberty! It is at stake, and we must do something to keep it our own!"
Eponine stood with the rest of the crowd, but paid little attention. Marius had practiced in front of her the day before, and the ideas were pounded in her head as firmly as they were in Marius'. Her thoughts drifted to the girl that Marius had sent her to find out about. Much to the dissatisfaction of Azelma, she went as Marius had requested. She had only been able to find out the girl's name after she had followed the carriage nearly an hour away from the cafe. She had hidden in the shadows for a while until she heard someone come outside. She went to the gate and saw it was the girl. The girl had been hesitant, but told Eponine her name and that she was suppose to visit the square again the next day. Eponine had hinted to stop by the cafe, but she hadn't seen the girl yet.
As Marius got towards the end of his speech, he felt a sense of pride and fulfillment. He glanced around the room and saw that Enjolras, and many of his other friends, were very well pleased. He even noted that Azelma and Grantaire had paused from their eternal lip-lock to pay attention to the words being spoken. Suddenly, his eyes fixated on one person, the girl that he had sent Eponine to find. He was lucky that he had only a few words left, or else he might have been thrown off completely. Without blinking an eye, he stared at her, and heard applause. He had finished, and all the students made their way forward to congratulate him. Everyone began to leave the cafe, chattering with others about what they had just heard. Marius saw the girl get swept up in the crowd and leave the cafe.
"Brilliant, Marius!"
"We didn't know that it was in you!"
"You write better speeches then Enjolras!"
"Let's not get carried away."
"I propose a round!"
"Any excuse will do!"
Marius couldn't share in his friends' happiness now that the girl was as close as she was. He ran from the cafe and looked up and down the street. He ran to the bench, yet she wasn't there. He dejectedly went back to the cafe, where everyone was absorbed once again in their own activities. He went over to Eponine.
"Did you find her?"
"What's wrong, Marius?"
"Did you find her?"
"Why are you so excited?"
"She was here! Listening to my speech!"
"I didn't think she actually would," Eponine stated as if it meant nothing.
"You told her about it?"
"You didn't want me to? I thought that maybe she would like to hear your opinions on some things."
"What did you find?"
"Well, she lives at 55 Rue Plumet and..."
"Rue Plumet?"
"That's right. She'd only give me her name. I think she didn't believe me."
"And?" Marius was as anxious as ever. "What's her name?"
"My God, Marius."
"Eponine!"
"Cosette."
"Cosette?"
"Yes. If you want, I'll take you to Rue Plumet later tonight. But I doubt you'll last that long. Get your hat and we'll go."
************************************************************************
"Marius, you are not telling me that we came here to stand outside her house. You're going to go in."
"I can't, 'Ponine. What would I say?"
"'Hello, my name is Marius Pontmercy. Remember me? I was making the speech?' I have no clue."
"I'm sorry I dragged you out here, 'Ponine, but I can't go through with it." There were two reasons why Marius refused to meet the girl. One was that he didn't feel confident enough, and the second was Eponine.
"Marius, if you don't go in there, I will."
"Eponine..."
This thoughts were interrupted when the wind picked up, and the hat in his hand was blown up and over the wall.
"You better get it, that's your good hat."
"You say that as if you planned the wind, 'Ponine."
"Fate and nature work together."
"I'll remember that," said Marius as he climbed up and over the wall.
He found himself in a garden. Concluding that the hat couldn't go very far, he began looking in the bushes right next to the garden wall, but had no such luck. He heard a throat clear behind him, and there stood the girl. She stood with a book in one hand, and his hat in the other.
"I believe you are looking for this, Monsieur." She studied him as he took his hat from her. "You're that man, who made the speech in the cafe. It was brilliantly written and spoken."
"Speeches aren't what I take great pride in, but on occasion I do try. I believe my friend may have frightened you last night, in which event, I am sorry."
"Not frightened, Monsieur, just startled me. I wasn't expecting anyone to come inquiring about me. For since she is your friend, you must know my name, but I am afraid that I do not know yours."
"My name is Marius Pontmercy, and it is an honor to meet you at last, Mademoiselle." The looked at his surroundings. "These gardens are exquisite, and very well kept."
The girl blushed slightly. "I planted everything myself, as well as keep them healthy."
"I am much impressed. May I propose a tour of your gardens, if I may be so bold?"
"I would love to show you around, Monsieur."
"Marius will quite do."
"Marius," she said taking his arm.
Eponine stood on the other side of the wall, a sad smile stuck on her face, listening to every word that had been spoken. Marius had done it, and Eponine had helped him. So why didn't she feel any satisfaction? It hit her then that she still had feelings for Marius; she still loved him. She drew her legs up to her face as she pressed her back to the wall. She sat crying for a while, until she heard Marius' voice coming closer.
"Will you come to the square tomorrow?"
"At one o'clock. I'll try to get rid of Papa."
"I'll be waiting."
Marius climbed over the wall and saw Eponine.
"Ready to go back?"
"I've been ready," smiled Eponine taking to his side.
They walked together in silence, engaged in their thoughts. Marius was thinking about Cosette, while Eponine was thinking of the man who was walking next to her.