Two updates to make up for the lack of posting regularity.

An Unlooked for Appointment

As the days continued to grow colder, Fantine helped the children settle into a new routine. Every morning she would first bring Cosette to the schoolhouse, and then she would accompany Gilles to the printing shop and bindery. After this, she would run off to the factory just in time for the working bell's knell. She always gave Cosette and Gilles some pieces of bread for their lunch, sometimes with cheese, sometimes without. Usually Gilles would bring Cosette home from school at half past three.

One morning near the spring while they were walking, Gilles cleared his throat. "Madame Fantine, I can't go by the school to get Cosette. There are too many books to be printed by tomorrow," he said sheepishly.

Fantine struggled to keep dismay from showing on her face. "Well, I think I can do it just for today," she said. She didn't know of any neighbor near the school or near the house who could see to Cosette.

Cosette noticed Fantine's serious look as they approached the schoolhouse. "Maman, what are you talking about?" she asked.

"Oh nothing," Fantine said. She brushed some snow off Cosette's red dress, which was beginning to fit her better. "But I will be the one to get you from school today. How would you like that?"

"Very much!" Cosette said. She had been growing cheerier ever since going into school, and she usually talked to Fantine about everything she did there. Now if Fantine ever envied her daughter, she never made it known.

At the schoolhouse, Cosette let go of Fantine's hand. "I will see you later?" she asked anxiously.

Fantine kissed her daughter's forehead. "I promise."

Gilles adjusted his hat. "We'll see you later," he said.

Cosette nodded and waved to them before she ran into the schoolhouse. Gilles and Fantine continued on their usual route, parting ways at the printer's shop.

Once she was alone, Fantine allowed herself to lean against the wall of a shop. "I can't get Louise to help me, not after last time," she said aloud. She cringed at the thought of having to grovel before Madame Victurnien. "Maybe I can say I have left something important, or that I am being looked for…but that's a lie isn't it?"

In her reverie, Fantine did not hear the shouts from up the street and a rumble of a cart that was swiftly going out of control.

"Someone help them!"

"A jack, a jack!"

"We're being crushed!"

Fantine groaned as she opened her eyes, only to be greeted with blackness. She became aware that she was not the only one trapped in the darkness, and that there was a dreadfully heavy weight atop of her.

"What's happening?" she screamed in panic. She clawed around for a way to extricate herself but found none.

She saw a pair of boots by the cart. "We can't wait a quarter of an hour for a jack. They will be crushed," she heard M. Madeleine say quickly. "There is still room for someone to crawl in and lift the cart. We can have them out quickly. Is there any man here with strength and courage? Five louis d'ors for him!"

Fantine tried to squirm, but found herself wedged against the cart's driver. "Can they do it?" she asked fearfully.

"We'll be crushed at this rate!" the carter howled.

"Ten louis!" M. Madeleine shouted. Still no one budged. "Twenty!"

"My God!" Fantine whispered as she heard the cart creak as it sank lower. The carter next to her yelled again.

"It's not good will they lack, but strength. Monsieur, I have only known one man who can do what you are asking," Javert's voice came over the din.

"Who?" M. Madeleine asked.

"He was a convict at Toulon."

Fantine winced as she heard the carter shout again. "Someone help us!" she herself cried out as she heard the Mayor make a final plea.

Suddenly, she became aware of a third shape under the cart. She gasped as she recognized the gray-haired man. "M. Madeleine, no!" she begged.

"Monsieur Madeleine, come out of there!" the bystanders shouted.

The carter himself tried to push the mayor away. "Go! Leave us before you are crushed!"

M. Madeleine shook his head as he tried to make an effort. Fantine heard the cart shake before it was lifted slightly. "Quick, help!" M. Madeleine shouted.

Suddenly people ran to the cart and began to lift it as well. Fantine let out a cry of joy as she saw the daylight again. She saw that M. Madeleine's clothes were as dirty as hers. "Oh thank you, thank you God! Thank you M. Madeleine!" she exclaimed.

M. Madeleine smiled at them wearily. "Take them to the infirmary," he said as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "Don't try to move, Madame," he said to Fantine.

Fantine shook her head. "What of my daughter? I need to see her from school later!"

M. Madeleine handed a handkerchief to her to wipe her face. "She will be taken care of,"

Fantine sighed with relief as she shut her eyes, not caring if she was being watched. And indeed they were. Of the entire crowd, only Javert hadn't stirred.