"But," she resumed, "tell me where Cosette is.
Why did not you place her on my bed against the moment of my waking?"
He made some mechanical reply which he was never afterwards able to recall.
Fortunately, the doctor had been warned, and he now made his appearance. He came to the aid of M. Madeleine.
"Calm yourself, my child," said the doctor; "your child is here."
Fantine's eyes beamed and filled her whole face with light. She clasped her hands with an expression which contained all that is possible to prayer in the way of violence and tenderness.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, "bring her to me!"
Touching illusion of a mother!
Cosette was, for her, still the little child who is carried.
"Not yet," said the doctor, "not just now.
You still have some fever. The sight of your child would agitate you and do you harm. You must be cured first."
She interrupted him impetuously:--
"But I am cured!
Oh, I tell you that I am cured!
What an ass that doctor is!
The idea!
I want to see my child!"
"You see," said the doctor, "how excited you become.
So long as you are in this state I shall oppose your having your child.
It is not enough to see her; it is necessary that you should live for her. When you are reasonable, I will bring her to you myself."