"But," she continued, "tell me where Cosette is? Why was she not laid in my bed so that I could see her directly I woke?" He answered something mechanically which he could never remember. Luckily the physician, who had been sent for, came to M. Madeleine's assistance. "My dear girl," said the physician, "calm yourself; your child is here." Fantine's eyes sparkled, and covered her whole face with brightness; she clasped her hands with an expression which contained all the violence and all the gentleness a prayer can have simultaneously. "Oh," she exclaimed, "bring her to me!" Touching maternal illusion! Cosette was still to her the little child who must be carried. "Not yet," the physician continued,--"not at this moment; you have a little fever hanging about you; the sight of your own child would agitate you and do you harm. You must get well first." She impetuously interrupted him,-- "But I am well! I tell you I am well! What a donkey this doctor is! I insist on seeing my child." "There, you see," the physician said, "how violent you are! So long as you are like that, I will prevent your having your child. It is not enough to see her, but you must live for her. When you grow reasonable, I will bring her myself." The poor mother hung her head. "Doctor, I ask your pardon; I sincerely ask your pardon. In former times I should not have spoken as I did just now, but I have gone through so much unhappiness that I do not know at times what I am saying. I understand; you are afraid of the excitement; I will wait as long as you like, but I swear to you that it would not do me any harm to see my child. Is it not very natural that I should want to see my child, who has been fetched from Montfermeil expressly for me? I am not angry, for I know very well that I am going to be happy. The whole night I have seen white things and smiling faces. The doctor will bring me Cosette when he likes; I have no fever now, because I am cured; I feel that there is nothing the matter with me, but I will behave as if I were ill, and not stir, so as to please these ladies. When you see that I am quite calm, you will say, We must give her her child." M. Madeleine had seated himself in a chair by the bed-side; she turned to him, visibly making an effort to appear calm and "very good," as she said in that weakness of illness which resembles childhood, in order that, on seeing her so peaceful, there might be no difficulty in bringing Cosette to her. Still, while checking herself, she could not refrain from asking M. Madeleine a thousand questions.