Grantaire lifted his eyes to Enjolras', smiling softly. "Yes, I get embarrassed by your praise sometimes. Am I not allowed my blushes?" He kissed the palm of Enjolras' hand. "I do find it easy to talk to children, and they seem to like me. I had lodgings on the same floor as a family once, they had several children, and they would make it a game to stop me climbing the stairs. They'd hang off my arms and legs, weigh me down." He laughed slightly, shaking his head at the memory. "Urchins."
"But no, not really. Even before I met you and looked at both sexes, I never considered it. To support a family would have been impossible. I have seen so many incredibly talented artists struggle for years without security. I had very little to offer a wife." He raised a hand with a smile. "And that is not me being critical of my former self. That is a fact. I couldn't have married."