"We're nearing New York," Hugh told them. Azelma leaned over the side of the boat to see New York. It just looked like a huge piece of land to her. She coughed into the air and cleared her throat. She didn't feel too well, but just dismissed it. Azelma was used to it from the streets and the lack of food.
"Ah, New York," Thénardier grinned and got out their papers as they sailed into the dock. Azelma held onto her paper tightly. They didn't go to the huge piece of land; instead they had docked into a smaller island.
"Ellis Island," Hugh explained, seeing the confused look on her face.
They were all herded out of the ship, and were split up to be grouped with their nationality. Thénardier and Azelma had to wait in the overcrowded room, as they got closer to customs. Finally, they stepped up to the officer.
"Papers," he said, and they willingly handed him the papers. "Mister Guerrette and his daughter, Gulnare?" he confirmed. Thénardier nodded.
"Do you know English?" the man asked.
"Yes, Monsieur," Thénardier said.
He turned to Azelma, "does your daughter know English?"
"No," Thénardier said. He took a deep breath to tell a sad sob story, but the man shushed him.
"If you successfully pass through customs, go up north to New England," he said, "there are dame schools which she should be enrolled in. They teach English, so it will be good for her. How much money do you have?"
"19,850 francs," Thénardier said.
"Good," the man said. "Alright, move on to the health inspection."
Thénardier nodded to Azelma, and they took their papers and headed to the health inspection. Thénardier cleared it and waited for Azelma.
"Mister Guerrette," Thénardier turned to see a nurse walking over to him. "Your daughter has a slight cold and a cough. Her sinuses also seem to be infected."
"So?" Thénardier asked, crossing his arms. He was impatient to get past the immigration stage.
The nurse sighed, "She is sick and cannot enter New York until she gets better."
"What does she have?" Thénardier asked.
"Catarrh."