I have had to revise this thing slightly: I forgot one detail here that has thankfully been pointed out to me by some reviewers. Thanks a lot.
The Betterment of Silence
Days went by, during whcih Fantine had to restrain herself from running too often to the post office in hopes of finding Tholomyes' reply. However, nearly a month went by with no success.
In the meantime, the whispers behind Fantine's back had begun to grow more audible. One morning, when Fantine arrived at the workshop, she could hear the women talking and giggling among themselves. However, when they saw her, they suddenly stopped.
"Why, has something happened?" she asked innocently.
"Oh nothing, Fantine," Louise replied, half-hiding her face.
Fantine shrugged as she sat down at her usual space. Even as she worked, she could see how some of the women slyly pointed and winked among themselves. Finally, she put down her work and turned to her neighbor.
"There is something about. Why won't you tell me?"
Louise wiped her hands on her skirt. "Well, Madame saw you going to the post office again."
"Madame? As in Madame Victurnien?" Fantine asked.
"Yes, that old bat!"
"Well, what is it to her? I do love to send letters."
"She doesn't see you carrying them."
Fantine sighed deeply as she turned back to her work.
After the last bell of the working day rung, Fantine lost no time in running out the door and up towards the post office. As soon as the postmaster saw her, he winked and handed her an envelope.
"You're pretty insistent, aren't you?" he said knowingly.
Fantine forced herself to smile. "Monsieur, can you read this for me?" she asked, trying not to make her indignity too obvious.
Suppressing a smirk, the postmaster opened the letter and cleared his throat. "He says, 'To my dear Fantine,
I must ask you to no longer write to me after this. I am very busy now in Toulouse; I have had to hear a good many cases on different matters. My parents too have been asking; you will only bring trouble upon yourself if you persist. I cannot come to Paris, or to Montreuil-sur-mer to help you and the child out. Please understand that this is a necessity, difficult as it may be.
Ever yours,
Felix de Tholomyes'."
"You're in a very bad way, girl," the postmaster finished as he handed the letter to her.
"He says I am asking for the impossible! Fantine realized with a shudder. She carefully folded up the letter to reread it, hoping to find a hidden, more benevolent meaning to it.
Still, as she walked home, she knew deep down there could be none at all. She struggled to smile as she approached her lodgings. Even from outside, she could hear Gilles apparently telling some story to Cosette.
As soon as Fantine opened the door, the little girl let out a shriek of joy and ran to embrace her mother. Fantine sighed as she sat down with the child. "What have you been up to now?" she asked half-cheerily.
Cosette merely grinned. "Stories!"
Gilles considered them seriously. "The men called me too small to be working in my father's place. I have to find something new to do," he said. "I haven't told my Maman yet."
Fantine nodded, almost relieved to hear she wasn't the only one having problems