Three years had passed. Phoebus had returned to the guards, and Esmeralda was known as his wife. They had a two-year-old son named Zephyr whom Quasimodo loved greatly. The bellringer and Adèle lived in the Court of Miracles and supported themselves by handiwork. Many Parisians still had prejudices against vagabonds, and it was especially difficult for the guards to get used to their captain living together with a Gypsy.

Of course, Quasimodo was also often mocked in the city, but because Adèle was admired and both of them made beautiful handiwork, life wasn’t too hard for them.

After Adèle had lost her baby Quasimodo had been very worried about her. Sometimes, Adèle had been offended because the bellringer hadn’t shown her affection.

"Do you think there’s something wrong with me?" she had asked, impatiently.

"No, my dear", Quasimodo had patted and embraced her, "but if you lose another one…and something happens to you!"

Some of their friends had noticed they were depressed, and did their best to support them. A few Gypsy girls had warned Quasi that Adèle could take an interest in other men, and the bellringer had asked her if that could be possible. Adèle had got annoyed.

"For me, there is no other man but you! I just hope you would be interested in me again! We can’t know whether we are going to have any children at all, so it’s senseless to refuse to sleep together only to avoid miscarriages!"

So, nowadays, the lovers were together all the time, and it was difficult for them to avoid showing tenderness even in the belltower.

One early spring day, the whole city was excited; the people had heard rumors about a very special present for the Cathedral.

In the afternoon, four men arrived at the Cathedral square carrying many kinds of tools and bars of metal. They went to the Archdeacon and asked for a permission to work inside the Cathedral to make the present. The priest agreed.

When the men started their labour he climbed to the belltower and asked Quasi and Adèle to come down.

Quasimodo recognized one of the men immediately: he was the most famous bell-founder of France!

"My goodness, the gift must be a new bell!" he whispered to Adèle.

The couple watched in excitement how the men built a forge to melt the bars. Then they brought the bars on the balcony of the church and made a mould where they poured the liquid metal.

A big crowd was following their working from below – no-one had seen a bell being founded before. Even Quasimodo was thunderstruck.

The founders worked with the new bell for several weeks. The townspeople heard rumours that the bell would become more beautiful and valuable than any other churchbell in the whole city.

Soon after this, Adèle noticed she was pregnant. Surprisingly, she was not just delighted at her perception, for she was afraid that she would feel sick like three years before. Quasimodo, in turn, was enthusiastic. He was worried about the unborn child, so he said to Adèle:

"It’s best if you don’t visit the belltower for a few months." Adèle was annoyed.

"That’s out of the question! I love the bells, and I want to tell the gargoyles we are having a baby."

"Darling, if you hadn’t wanted to leave the belltower last time you wouldn’t have had the miscarriage", remarked Quasimodo. "So, because it’s no longer necessary for us to climb up there I won’t let you take any risks with this child."

Esmeralda, Phoebus, Mirette and Mertzi were excited to hear the news. Mirette planned all the time how she would help her sister to take care of the baby. Instead, some of Adèle’s friends started to avoid her company, and she was very disappointed in them, particularly since no-one gave an explanation.

"I can’t understand this!" she sighed at Quasimodo, "I’m the same I’ve always been, I’m just expecting a baby – besides, we didn’t keep away from Esmeralda when she was pregnant!"

"Some girls did", remarked the bellringer, "and she was sure that was because the father of her child was a soldier."

"But your guardian died already three years ago", Adèle exclaimed, "so they can’t behave like that because of your past."

"Not because of my past but my appearance, maybe", Quasimodo said honestly.

Adèle’s eyes were filled with tears. "Oh, no, my Quasi…The townspeople can be stupid, but these people know you!"

"But I think their behaviour is understandable. What if the child…?" Quasi didn’t say more, but he looked at his sweetheart restlessly.

"If the child looks like you I will never ever keep him hidden!" swore Adèle, "but we can’t refuse to show him the bells."

After about three months, the bell-founders finished their job. Adèle and Quasi were dazzled to see how beautiful the new bell was. When the priests hanged it up between the two towers, the lovers noticed that it was decorated with jewels from the inside!

"Incredible!" Adèle exclaimed. "We have to use it only in very special occasions!"

Because she had been in good condition during the first months of her pregnancy Quasi let her come with him when he went to ring the bell for the first time.

"We should give it a good name", he said and grasped the rope of the bell. For his amazement, Adèle plunged into his arms at the very moment, babbling:

"Oh, my little Quasimodo, you look simply adorable!" That was because the sunlight was just falling on his face.

"You are impossible", the bellringer laughed, but Adèle pressed her cheek to his and convinced: "I love you!"

At the very moment, Quasi was very near losing his balance, and because he was holding the rope the bell swung. The lovers burst into laughter.

"I have an idea", exclaimed Adèle, "what if all lovers in Paris declared the name of the one they love while you ring this bell!"

Adèle’s idea became a great success. The whole city got enthusiastic about it, and already after a few weeks, the people were celebrating a new feast, the Day of Love.

One couple by one stepped in the middle of the Cathedral square, and while Quasi was ringing the new bell every man and woman proclaimed the name of his or her beloved. Of course, there were also many people who were not in love, but even they admired the dazzling bell.

The whole crowd cheered at Phoebus and Esmeralda when they shouted each other’s names. Then, finally, all the people directed their attention towards the balcony where Adèle was standing by Quasi’s side. The bellringer grasped the rope once more and declared:

"I LOVE ADÈLE!!!"

"I LOVE QUASIMODO!!!" his sweetheart yelled, pressing his face to her chest.

Then she happened to glance down at Clopin and remembered that her stepfather didn’t have anyone to love. She sighed, and Quasimodo looked at her in surprise.

"Charlotte would be so happy today", Adèle whispered.

When those two got down from the tower and joined the other couples some women noticed the change in Adèle’s appearance. They started to glance at each other and smile significantly at her. Adèle sparkled, but she said nothing.

"All right, my friends", exclaimed Clopin, "now we should give a name to our magnificent new bell! Any suggestions?"

Many people suggested for beautiful names of women, but Adèle remarked:

"Because she is not like the other bells I think her name should also be different. It should also have something to do with the purpose she is used for."

"I know – La Fidèle!" exclaimed Quasimodo.

The Parisians cheered, but some of them were also amused at the similarity of the names of the bellringer’s sweetheart and the bell. "Adèle – Fidèle!" The lovers heard this and embraced each other.

"I will always remain faithful to you!" Adèle whispered.

When the time of Adèle’s childbirth was near, she and Quasimodo moved by Esmeralda and Phoebus. Finally, on a cold October day, Adèle was overwhelmed by pains. Quasi hastened to fetch Mirette, and when she arrived he and the Captain left the house till the child would be born.

It was a hard day for Adèle. Her body shuddered, she shouted and panted, and meanwhile, Esmeralda and Mirette spoke sharply to each other; Esmeralda remembered her own childbirth, but she had never before acted as midwife.

Finally, when Adèle felt she would have no more strength, the infant slipped forth, crying loudly.

The next thing Adèle realized was Mirette’s horrified exclamation:

"Oh, no! Her back!" Esmeralda bowed down to look in the new mother’s eyes, and Adèle saw her own eyes were filled with tears. She turned pale.

"Is it a girl?" she whispered weakly. "Do you think she will – die?"

Esmeralda sobbed. "No, she is alive, but…how can we ever tell Quasimodo? How can he bear this?"

She took the baby from Mirette and showed it to her friend. It took only a moment before Adèle noticed her daughter had a hump. She reached her arms to take the child, pressed her to her chest and burst into tears. Mirette tried to comfort her.

"Poor little darling", Adèle whispered. The baby had blue eyes and red hair, and she seemed delicate.

"I dare not even think what the townspeople will say", Mirette said to Esmeralda.

"Quasi will be heartbroken", sighed the dancer, "Adèle, maybe it would be best if I just fetched him and you showed him the child?"

The bellringer had been restless all day long, and Phoebus had done his best to encourage him. Esmeralda found them in an alley near the Cathedral where they were taking a walk with little Zephyr. She hastened to them. At first, Quasimodo felt abated and Phoebus smiled cheerfully at him, but the bellringer was terrified when Esmeralda put her arms round him and began to cry.

"My goodness, Esme, what has happened?" asked the Captain, and Quasi whispered, turning pale: "Adèle…! Is she – ?"

"Come with me", the Gypsy girl said quietly, detaching herself from his hold. Quasimodo exclaimed: "Tell me what’s the matter, for Heaven’s sake!"

His friend couldn’t help crying. "The child…oh, Quasi…come quickly!"

She ran back to her home and opened the door to the bedroom where Mirette was just swaddling the infant and Adèle lay in the bed, depressed.

Quasimodo hastened by the bed. "Adèle, my dear, what is it?" His sweetheart looked sadly at him. Then she took the child, fondled her and gave her to the bellringer. Mirette found it best to leave the room.

Quasimodo looked tenderly at the baby’s small, cute face, her dark blue eyes and her soft red hair. But then he noticed something strange. He turned the infant and uncovered her shoulders.

Adèle saw the shocked expression of her beloved and touched him gently. The bellringer stared at his daughter’s back for a moment – then he folded her in his arms and burst into tears.

"Why did this have to happen to you, my dear little one?" he whispered. He was in despair because he couldn’t help thinking about what Frollo had taught him. "What if they tell you are ugly and deformed?"

"Quasimodo…I know how you feel", Adèle tried to comfort him, "but she is our child, and I promise I’ll take care of that she learns to be strong."

"I would never have touched you if I had known my children would inherit this deformity", sobbed Quasi, with his head drooping.

"Quasi, I don’t want to hear that!" Adèle was annoyed. "I am as sad and shocked as you are, but I’m not blaming you. This is our baby, and I already love her. All we have to do is protect her from mockers, but – don’t worry – that does not mean we would keep her separated from the world!"

"Hunchback…poor, misshapen child…monster…", Quasimodo repeated those fateful words to himself. "How is she ever going to manage?"

"Give her to me! At least, she won’t manage if we continually talk to her about her back!" Adèle snatched the baby in her arms. "By the way, what will we name her?"

"Don’t you understand?" snapped the bellringer, "I’m afraid of what will happen to her when the townspeople find out the truth – I’m not going to talk about her back."

"Don’t worry, darling, we’ll take care of you", Adèle babbled to the baby, "and soon, we’ll take you to see the bells."

"The name…", deliberated Quasimodo, "it should be particularly beautiful. What do you think about Charlotte, after your mother?"

Adèle smiled tenderly. "I love it…But my mother is dead…Think about if something happened to our little one as well!" She embraced the infant.

"Hmmm…What about Christine?"

"Yes, that’s excellent!" exclaimed Adèle.

After a few weeks, Quasimodo and Adèle took baby Christine with them to the Court of Miracles. They were worried, but it was clear the vagabonds were curious to see the newest member of their community.

Children grouped themselves around the comers, jumped and yelled and demanded to see the baby. Adèle had carefully covered Christine’s back. Now, she sat down among the children and let them babble to the little one.

Suddenly, however, a six-year-old girl snatched the baby from her mother’s arms and crushed her to herself. Christine began to cry, and Quasi said to the girl:

"Give her to me – that wasn’t a nice thing to do."

"She is so cute", said the girl. Right then, another child snatched the baby and noticed she couldn’t put her arm behind her neck.

"Adèle, is there something on her back?" Quasi was startled and turned away.

"Give her to me at once!" Adèle demanded and snatched Christine. She and Quasimodo hastened away from the children and went to Clopin who was accompanied by some other elderly Gypsies.

Clopin smiled cheerfully and congratulated the young parents. "So, this is my granddaughter. What’s her name?"

"Christine", told Quasimodo. Clopin was amazed at him looking so serious. "What is it?"

"Clopin", Adèle said in a low voice, "she is…hump-backed."

The Gypsy leader was startled. He took the baby in his arms and had a look on her back. "It’s true…Poor child! Life will be hard for her."

Sarita who was standing near them did also shake her head sadly. "Pity indeed! It would be best if the townspeople didn’t find this out at all."

Adèle exclaimed: "You…you can’t mean…! I promised to Quasimodo…!"

"Adèle, darling, I’m absolutely sure that wasn’t what Sarita meant", comforted Clopin, and Sarita assured:

"I just meant it would be best to keep the child here among us till she gets a bit bigger, for example till she learns to walk. If the townspeople saw her now they most likely would call her ’a demon’ and ’a monster child’…I’m sorry – that’s not my opinion, I just remember when you were small, Quasi…"

"Oh, I see", the bellringer noted, "and I agree with you. Besides, Adèle, I think we shouldn’t take Christine to the belltower yet…Don’t forget the stairs are very steep, and it would be even dangerous for you to climb there with your long skirt on and Christine in your arms. Besides, I think she is too small to be interested in bells."

"What about the Feast of Fools? It’s after two months, and it would be so nice to introduce Christine in the city on that day", Adèle smiled.

"Like me!" grimaced Quasimodo, "yes, there’s an idea! But I don’t want people to mock her as ’the Princess of Fools’."

"Of course not, little Quasi. On the contrary, I’m sure it’s easier for them to accept your daughter having a hump if we introduce her on the day when it’s advisable to look ’different’."

The news about Quasi and Adèle’s child spread fast among the Parisians. Often when they came to buy handiwork they asked the bellringer about Christine. Many of them would have liked to see her, but Quasimodo said she was still too small. He was abated that the townspeople didn’t know Christine was hump-backed. Not even Clopin told that to the children.

Naturally, Adèle spent her time in the Court, taking care of the baby. Christine woke up many times a night, but in the day-time, she slept a lot. Mirette and Esmeralda helped Adèle to take care of her, but the other Gypsy girls tried to avoid having anything to do with the child. Adèle was offended.

"I assure you we won’t take her anywhere, nor will we let you do her any harm", she said. "Think about what that man-beast made our Quasi believe – it’s out of the question that Christine would have to learn anything like that!"