The next morning, the first things Grantaire heard were bounding footsteps through the hallways and careless giggling. A merry tenor called, "Come Cosette! It is time for our morning prayer!" The footsteps echoed down the stairs. A faint, "Coming Papa!" also reached his ears. Then there was more laughter. Grantaire didn't know what to make of any of it. A happy home was a thing utterly unknown to the poor man. There was no angry yelling or swearing, as he was used to in his past. There were no riled students hollering and singing, as he was used to now. No riots, no arrests, no fighting.
"Probably no wine, either," Grantaire grumbled to himself. But then he sighed, remembering that he was to become a respectable Frenchman. And respectable Frenchmen did not drink, or so Grantaire thought, but he actually didn't know, having never really met a respectable Frenchman. Well, except for Monsieur Fauchelevant. Grantaire was almost positive that he had never been drunk, or done anything wrong at all, for that matter.
Grantaire got out of bed and went downstairs, marvelling all the way at how clean and bright the house was. Jean Valjean and Cosette were sitting in the dining room, and he joined them.
"BONJOUR GRANTAIRE!" Cosette bounced over to him. "Just look at how beautiful this morning is!"
"Good morning, Grantaire," greeted Jean Valjean. "I was just going to send up our maid Toussant to wake you."
"I'm already awake. And I'm hungry."
"We're about to have breakfast, Grantaire!" Cosette informed him.
As if on cue, a woman entered carrying a plate piled high with steaming croissants. She set it down right in front of Grantaire; he felt his mouth start to water. His hand shot out.
"Ow! DAMNIT!"
Cosette had stabbed him with a fork.
"Papa! He cursed!"
"She stabbed me with a goddamn fork!"
Cosette gasped and clutched her heart. Her bottom lip started to tremble.
"My child," began Jean Valjean, lightly touching her hand. "Forgive him. He is ignorant of our life."
"Why are we not addressing the issue of my attack?" Grantaire demanded.
"Grantaire, forgive her. She was only trying to keep you from eating before we said Grace," Jean Valjean explained. "Now, I will begin so that we can eat." Jean Valjean clasped his hands together and lowered his head. "Dear God, thank you for bringing Cosette to me, and thank you for our new companion, Grantaire. Please help us learn to live together in peace."
"Thank you, God, for bringing Grantaire to us, but please try to help him to understand how to behave," said Cosette.
"Dear God, I am thankful that I still possess a hand after the assault."
Cosette scowled. Her father sighed. "Amen," he said.
"Amen," Cosette repeated.
Then they both stared in horror at their companion, whose eating habits were akin to those of a wild dog. Jean Valjean shook his head; it seemed as if his task would be harder than he thought.