Of Faithful Friends
If Fantine could have begged it of Sister Simplice and M. Madeleine, she would never have had reason to leave the infirmary and return to work. As it was, it took all her courage the next day to walk the now dreary way to the factory.
She forced herself to smile at a familiar face on the walk. "Good morning Louise."
Louise did not look up at Fantine. "Well, how have you been?"
"I've been hurt, but I'm fine," Fantine said. She noticed her friend's posture was no longer jaunty, but bowed almost as if in shame. "Has something happened?"
Louise looked up sharply. "You honestly do not know?"
"Mme. Victurnien spoke to me yesterday," Fantine said wanly. "Louise, you know I did not do anything wrong!"
Louise did not smile sympathetically, as she would have done perhaps a day before. Instead, her lip twisted up in something of a pert sneer. "And you think you are the only innocent here?"
Fantine swallowed hard. "I do not understand."
"Well, you are as daft as I suspected," Louise said contemptuously. "Or rather, they. I did not want to open your drawer--"
"My God, Louise!"
The younger girl stopped as her face deepened red. "It wasn't my plan. It was the other women," she said quietly.
"But why?" Fantine asked, feeling as if she was going to be sick.
Louise smiled bitterly even as her eyes swam with tears of guilt. "They know everything. I mean, they saw that little girl of yours. And I daresay they were jealous."
"You didn't have to do it."
"Madame did not have to confront you. We only do what we have to."
Fantine struggled to counter Louise's words, but she was left standing speechless as the younger girl walked away.