[Masterpiece Les Miserables] Paris Sparks

The house on Boulevard Saint-Germain was very spacious when it was purchased, and the three of Fantine moved in, but it was only a small studio that had been converted into a bedroom.It was an exquisite and lovely three-story building. The third floor was a studio and two guest rooms. Coronne, Fantine and Cosette all lived on the second floor. The first floor was the living room, Caton’s old bedroom and study , and Jean Valjean's room.

When Cosette was in Montreuil, she was educated by Fantine and Jean Valjean.When they arrived in Paris, considering that her temperament was much more cheerful and that she needed to make friends, the three of them discussed and sent her to a girls' elementary school with a good reputation.On the first day of school, after dinner, several people gathered around Cosette to listen to her talk about the school subjects: French, English, history, geography, physics, chemistry, natural history, drawing, sewing...

"Did you enjoy the lessons?" Corona asked.

Cosette thought about it blankly, then shook her head: "I don't know."

"Do you hate it?"

Cosette shook her head.

Corona was relieved.

"I have never learned many lessons here," said Fantine, half relieved, half worried.

"Ask Cosette to teach you." Corona said casually.

"How shall I teach?" asked Cosette.

Corona was just making a joke casually, but Cosette took it seriously and asked seriously. "You can teach your mother what your teacher taught you." She laughed.

"But there are some things the teacher taught that I don't quite understand." Cosette said worriedly.

"If you don't understand, just come and ask me and Mr. Rang. We can teach you, and then you can teach your mother."

Cosette glanced at Jean Valjean, and was relieved when he saw that he also nodded.After chatting for a while, and she was off to study, Fantine really showed her sadness. "I haven't learned anything about what she said today."

"Won't she know how to teach you?" Corona comforted her, "Besides, I haven't learned some subjects."

"Why?" asked Fantine, with wide-eyed eyes.In her mind, Coronne and Jean Valjean were of the same kind: they had read many books, knew many things, and knew nothing.She never thought that Corona would have something she didn't understand.

"Of course I don't understand a lot—I never went to elementary school." Corona laughed. "When I was young, I learned from my brother's textbooks. There are always some subjects that are different. For example, I am not good at As for sewing, I only learned the superficial aspects of European history outside of France. As for chemistry, I mostly learned chemistry related to pigments, and there is still a lot of knowledge that I have never learned.”

"How come you are not good at sewing?" asked Fantine in amazement, and of Corona's passage she understood only this line, "You are a girl, Corona!"

"Because I spent all the time I spent learning sewing drawing. You see, although I'm not good at sewing now, I'm good at painting. Isn't that great?" Corona responded with a smile.After hearing too many words like this, she no longer seriously reasoned every time.

Fantine was convinced of her at first, and after thinking about it, she was convinced: "You are right, you are not an ordinary girl. Besides, I heard that noble ladies don't need to make their own clothes."

This is true, but it would be a long story to explain to Fantine why Coronne herself did not want to be a standard "Miss Noble".So Corona just smiled and stopped talking.

But when it came to this topic, Corona couldn't help but think of Caton again.Back then, Caton taught her Latin and English, searched for famous British painters for her, and finally invited Basil Howard to be her teacher. Memories resurfaced again.She wrote a letter to Caton, briefly describing the arrival of the three Fantines in Paris, and asking when he would return.She had already planned that if Caton didn't come back for his birthday this year, she would take time to go back to London anyway—she hadn't missed her father's birthday yet.

However, this time Carton's reply was long overdue.He didn't reply until it was too late that she started to worry and sent a second letter to inquire.The reply was short and cold, with greetings to Fantine, Cosette and Jean Valjean, but only a few words to himself and to Coronne, saying that he did not intend to return to Paris for the time being, but wanted to stay with the Darnays. It's my birthday this year.

It's understandable that he would want to spend his birthday with a former friend.But the indifference in Caton's words made her feel a little sad.No matter how nicely he speaks, how well he understands the truth, Caton has always held her in his hands. Now that there is such a gap suddenly, she is both aggrieved and puzzled.She had no intention of painting all afternoon, and sat in the studio thinking and thinking about the first two letters.It's just that it has been a long time, and she is no longer sure what kind of words she wrote at that time.

She mentioned Jean Valjean... But the invitation to Jean Valjean was agreed by Caton, and there was no reason for him to be unhappy about it. Father was not like that.Fantine and Cosette?Then it won't happen.Cosette went to a girls' school?Her own education was carried out at home, as was little Lucy, but little Sidney had always been in school, and Carton should not have any dissatisfaction with school education.What else did she write?What was it that annoyed my father?Her paintings?Basil Howard?Madame Morcerf?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell.Corona put down the letter in her hand, took off the paint-spattered blouse and gloves, tidied herself up hastily, and rushed downstairs.At the foot of the stairs she met the old maid who was hurrying upstairs. "Miss, Mr. Basil Howard is calling."

Corona briskly ran down the stairs. "Basil! I just thought of you, and you're here soon." She greeted with a smile.

Slightly earlier than Caton, Basil also ended his creation in Paris and returned to England.However, the relationship between him and Corona was nothing more than a teacher-student relationship. Although they were close, it was not enough to stay in Paris for her. Corona didn't take this matter to heart.He lived in England for several years and returned to Paris for a month to open an exhibition.

Basil forced a smile. "I've come to say good-bye," said he. "I'm going back to London at noon the day after tomorrow."

"What's the matter? Your exhibition is such a success that there's no artist in Paris who doesn't know your name now. Why are you so sad, my dear Basil?"

She thought that Basil's expression would improve when the art exhibition was mentioned, but on the contrary, the brows of the other party became more worried. "It's good that the art exhibition is very successful. But I think that my most outstanding works are not among them."

"... Oh, well, I see," said Corona, pulling Basil to sit down, and sighing deeply, "Dorian Gray, that Dorian Gray again, I should have guessed, who else has troubled you so much? What's the matter with him, Basil?"

"He didn't do anything," said Basil, "just gossip. I even laughed aloud when I first heard it, because I was sure Dorian would never have done it. But if everyone Saying the same thing, it wouldn't be unfounded if anyone who befriended him ended up discrediting himself. Not to mention, when I spent two years in Paris and went back At that time, I only heard more and more ugly rumors."

"It is true that there are inexplicable rumors in society sometimes," Corona said. "But I have only met Dorian Gray once or twice before, and I have never heard any rumors in society. I can't say that I know him well." Basil, since he is your muse, and since he causes you so much distress, why don't you go and see him yourself, and ask him?"

"If I could ask him!" said Basil, with a wry smile on his lips, "you can't imagine how much I want to confront him, Corona. But I'm afraid I've lost him friendship."

"How? You like him so much, Basil. You're such a nice, sincere fellow."

Basil shook his head, but did not answer.Corona could see that he didn't want to bring up this topic, so she didn't pursue it.She thought for a while and asked, "At noon the day after tomorrow, Basil?"

"Yes."

"Which one is the train or the ship? I'll go back with you."

"——What?" Basil asked in astonishment.

"Before you came, I was worrying about my father. Your coming reminded me that instead of worrying here, I might as well go back to London to see him. It just so happens that his birthday is coming next month. Stay there a little longer, and maybe I can go with you to visit Dorian Gray—if you like, of course."

In a blink of an eye, she had already spent two years in Paris.

For a 16-year-old girl, two years is a long time.Parisian fashion didn't feel it, but when she stepped onto the stone slab of the pier, Corona suddenly felt homesickness rushing into her heart.

She made a very sudden decision this time, and the letter she wrote was probably still on the way, but it arrived a little later than herself, and no one came to pick it up at the port.She then parted from Basil at the port, and hired a carriage.

The car stopped.She picked up the suitcase, got out of the car, stood in front of the very familiar garden and rang the doorbell.But it wasn't Caton who answered the door.

The author has something to say: a few paragraphs in this chapter are quoted from the original text of "The Picture of Dorian Gray", no more than 200 words.