Ashes In a Cold Hearth

It would not have been far off the mark to say that Fantine was becoming a wiser, more prudent woman. She learned to stretch her purse for two, to make the eight hours left in her day do for sixteen, and on top of it all to keep Cosette in order.

However, despite all this newfound meticulousness, disaster was still about to strike.

One Sunday, Fantine was woken up by her friend Bernadette shaking her. "What is it now?" she asked, noticing for the first time in many weeks, the widow was dressed gaily.

"I'm going to market today to speak with some old friends. Since Gilles is coming with me, I thought you and Cosette might want to come along," Bernadette answered.

Fantine shrugged, not wishing to remember the condition of her one good dress. "Very well then," she said.

So it was a merry group that walked into Montreuil-sur-mer's small market: the mothers had put on their best clothing, and fussed over their children. Cosette's new dress was made to fit; in fact the little girl was a charming sight as she tried not to trip over the newly trimmed hem. Gilles' new hat looked for once more appropriate on a dandy than it did on a young boy of his age.

After a while, they all went their own ways. Gilles and Cosette had run on ahead to buy some sweets, while Bernadette decided to haggle with some merchants. Fantine on the other hand had her attention caught by some laces in a stall.

"It's not exactly Valeciennes, but it is nice," she reminded herself as she fished for coins in her skirt pocket. As she did this, she noticed a familiar gray head walking by.

"Good morning Madame…Fantine isn't it?" M. Madeleine greeted as he stopped near the stall.

Fantine smiled and managed a curtsy. "Yes, that is how I am called. Are you well, Monsieur Mayor?"

"As can be," the gentleman replied. "Where is your daughter?"

Fantine gestured to where Gilles and Cosette were watching some friends at play. "Over with the other children."

M. Madeleine nodded by way of acknowledgment. "How old is she?"

"Just turned three, Monsieur. I should think of having her educated soon," Fantine blurted out.

M. Madeleine gave her a reassuring look. "There is a school for the small children, on the southern side of town. You will not have to pay very much. You can enroll your daughter there at the end of the summer."

Fantine felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth. "I shall, Monsieur," she said. For a moment, she thought of applying to him for help, but modesty checked her tongue. "If only Felix could be so gentlemanly!" she would have sighed.

M. Madeleine tipped his hat to her. "I shall be going on my way then. Good day to you, Madame Fantine."

"And to you too, Monsieur Mayor," Fantine said, curtsying again. She watched as he went to speak to some tradesmen who owed him a little money. Some small children ran up to him and he handed them a few coins. Smiling at this scene, Fantine went to collect her daughter.

"He is a terribly nice man, isn't he?" Gilles said as he noticed her.

"That he is. He helped me get my place in the factory," Fantine replied.

Cosette squirmed when Fantine tried to pick her up. "I want to run!"

"Not very far off, Cosette," Fantine said, putting down the child. She grinned, realizing it had taken more effort than she'd thought to lift the little girl.

Cosette impetuously stuck her tongue in her mouth. "There's cake over there!"

"Aw, not now Cosette. It's almost luncheon," Gilles chided. He looked around. "Speaking of it, where's my Maman?"

Suddenly, a commotion came from the other end of the market place as some stalls were upset and people began running. "There's robbers! Someone fetch the police!" a wag shouted over the din.

"Let go of my purse you brutes!" a cry came up.

Fantine paled as she recognized the voice. "Bernadette!" she whispered. Gilles sprang past her and dashed to the scene. Fantine quickly grabbed Cosette's hand and followed the boy to the center of the commotion. Before she could get near enough to rescue her friend, suddenly someone yelled out as a body fell to the ground.

"Don't let him get away!" one of the neighborhood toughs roared, trying to restrain a robber who had attempted to disappear.

"The others have run off, but the police will be after them!" a harridan cried.

"Maman! Wake up!" Gilles shouted, trying to rouse his mother, who was bleeding from a wound to her side. "Someone get a doctor!"

Fantine glanced from the injured woman to the knife the robber still held in his hand. "Murderer!" she hissed as she got to her knees to help Gilles staunch the flowing blood from Bernadette's injury.

By this time, M. Madeleine was at the scene. "I have called the doctor and asked for the police. We should take this woman to the infirmary," he said.

"It looks a bit late for that," someone said discreetly.

Fantine willed herself not to listen to this remark. She mechanically moved aside when someone announced the doctor's arrival. She felt a gnawing ache well up within her as she watched Gilles struggle to retain his composure.

"God, spare him from what I went through!" she whispered as she reached for Cosette's hand and followed the rest to the infirmary.