Not a soul had seen her except the stranger, who was now eating a simple supper. Her joy lasted almost a quarter of an hour.
But in spite of all her care, Cosette did not see that one leg of the doll was sticking out, and that the fire from the chimney lighted it brightly. This red and shining leg coming out of the shadow suddenly struck the eye of Azelma, who said to Eponine: “Look there, sister.”
The two little girls stopped, amazed. Cosette had dared take their doll!
Eponine got up, and without leaving the cat, ran over to her mother, and began to pull her skirt.
“Let me alone,” said the mother. “What do you want?”
“Mother,” said the child, “look there.” And she pointed her finger at Cosette.
The woman cried in a voice hoarse with anger, “Cosette!”
Cosette shivered as if the earth had trembled under her. She turned around.
“Cosette!” repeated the woman.
Cosette took the doll and laid it on the floor with a sort of reverence mingled with despair. Then, without taking her eyes away from it, she joined her hands and burst into tears.