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Her hands were sunburnt and all dotted with freckles； her forefinger was hardened and lacerated with the needle； she wore a cloak of coarse brown woollen stuff； a linen gown； and coarse shoes。 It was Fantine。
It was Fantine； but difficult to recognize。
Nevertheless； on scrutinizing her attentively； it was evident that she still retained her beauty。 A melancholy fold； which resembled the beginning of irony； wrinkled her right cheek。
As for her toilette； that aerial toilette of muslin and ribbons； which seemed made of mirth； of folly； and of music； full of bells； and perfumed with lilacs had vanished like that beautiful and dazzling hoar…frost which is mistaken for diamonds in the sunlight； it melts and leaves the branch quite black。
Ten months had elapsed since the 〃pretty farce。〃
What had taken place during those ten months？
It can be divined。
After abandonment； straightened circumstances。
Fantine had immediately lost sight of Favourite； Zephine and Dahlia； the bond once broken on the side of the men； it was loosed between the women； they would have been greatly astonished had any one told them a fortnight later； that they had been friends； there no longer existed any reason for such a thing。
Fantine had remained alone。 The father of her child gone；alas！ such ruptures are irrevocable； she found herself absolutely isolated； minus the habit of work and plus the taste for pleasure。
Drawn away by her liaison with Tholomyes to disdain the pretty trade which she knew； she had neglected to keep her market open； it was now closed to her。
She had no resource。 Fantine barely knew how to read； and did not know how to write； in her childhood she had only been taught to sign her name； she had a public letter…writer indite an epistle to Tholomyes； then a second； then a third。
Tholomyes replied to none of them。 Fantine heard the gossips say； as they looked at her child： 〃Who takes those children seriously！
One only shrugs one's shoulders over such children！〃
Then she thought of Tholomyes； who had shrugged his shoulders over his child； and who did not take that innocent being seriously； and her heart grew gloomy toward that man。 But what was she to do？
She no longer knew to whom to apply。 She had mitted a fault； but the foundation of her nature； as will be remembered； was modesty and virtue。
She was vaguely conscious that she was on the verge of falling into distress； and of gliding into a worse state。
Courage was necessary； she possessed it； and held herself firm。
The idea of returning to her native town of M。 sur M。 occurred to her。
There； some one might possibly know her and give her work； yes； but it would be necessary to conceal her fault。
In a confused way she perceived the necessity of a separation which would be more painful than the first one。 Her heart contracted； but she took her resolution。
Fantine； as we shall see； had the fierce bravery of life。
She had already valiantly renounced finery； had dressed herself in linen； and had put all her silks； all her ornaments； all her ribbons； and all her laces on her daughter； the only vanity which was left to her； and a holy one it was。
She sold all that she had； which produced for her two hundred francs； her little debts paid； she had only about eighty francs left。
At the age of twenty…two； on a beautiful spring morning； she quitted Paris； bearing her child on her back。 Any one who had seen these two pass would have had pity on them。 This woman had； in all the world； nothing but her child； and the child had； in all the world； no one but this woman。
Fantine had nursed her child； and this had tired her chest； and she coughed a little。
We shall have no further occasion to speak of M。 Felix Tholomyes。 Let us confine ourselves to saying； that； twenty years later； under King Louis Philippe； he was a great provincial lawyer； wealthy and influential； a wise elector； and a very severe juryman； he was still a man of pleasure。
Towards the middle of the day； after having； from time to time； for the sake of resting herself； travelled； for three or four sous a league； in what was then known as the Petites Voitures des Environs de Paris； the 〃little suburban coach service；〃 Fantine found herself at Montfermeil； in the alley Boulanger。
As she passed the Thenardier hostelry； the two little girls； blissful in the monster swing； had dazzled her in a manner； and she had halted in front of that vision of joy。
Charms exist。
These two little girls were a charm to this mother。
She gazed at them in much emotion。
The presence of angels is an announcement of Paradise。
She thought that； above this inn； she beheld the mysterious HERE of Providence。
These two little creatures were evidently happy。
She gazed at them； she admired them； in such emotion that at the moment when their mother was recovering her breath between two couplets of her song； she could not refrain from addressing to her the remark which we have just read：
〃You have two pretty children； Madame。〃
The most ferocious creatures are disarmed by caresses bestowed on their young。
The mother raised her head and thanked her； and bade the wayfarer sit down on the bench at the door； she herself being seated on the threshold。
The two women began to chat。
〃My name is Madame Thenardier；〃 said the mother of the two little girls。 〃We keep this inn。〃
Then； her mind still running on her romance； she resumed humming between her teeth：
〃It must be so； I am a knight；
And I am off to Palestine。〃
This Madame Thenardier was a sandy…plexioned woman； thin and angular the type of the soldier's wife in all its unpleasantness； and what was odd； with a languishing air； which she owed to her perusal of romances。
She was a simpering； but masculine creature。 Old romances produce that effect when rubbed against the imagination of cook…shop woman。
She was still young； she was barely thirty。 If this crouching woman had stood upright； her lofty stature and her frame of a perambulating colossus suitable for fairs； might have frightened the traveller at the