The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-14
VI.


All at once she suddenly felt that the
bucket no longer weighed anything: a
hand which seemed to her enormous, had
I seized it, and was vigorously lifting it. She
raised her head, and saw a tall black form
walking by her side II was a man who
had come up behind her, and whom she
had not heard. This man, without say
ing a word, had seized the handle of the
bucket which she was CARRYING. There is
an instinct in every meeting in this life,
and Cosette felt no fear. The man spoke
to her in a serious, almost low voice.
"My child, what you are carrying is
very heavy"
Cosette raised her head and replied,
eyes, sir"
Give it to me" the man continued, al
will carry it for you"
COsette let 60 of the bucket, and the
man walked on by her side.
cit is really very heavy" he muttered;
then added,
"What is your age, little one?"
Eight years, sir"
And have you come far with this? ?"
"From the spring in the wood"
"And how far have you to go?"
about a quarter of an hours walk"
The man stopped for a moment and
then suddenly said
Then you haven't any mother"
~ do not know" the child answered,
but before the man had time tie speak she
continued: 81 do not think so; other
girls have one, but l have not" and after a
silence she added, al believe that | never
had one"
The man stopped, put the bucket on
the ground and laid his two hands on her
shoulders, making an effort To see her
face in the darkness. COsette's thin, sallOw
countenance was vaguely discerned in the
vivid CLEAN OF the sky.
"What is your name ?" the man asked
her.
"Cosette."
The man seemed to have an electric
shock; he looked at her again, then re-
moved his hands, took the bucket UP
again and continued his walk. A mo-
ment after he asked:
"Where DO live. little one?'
AT MOntfermeil, if You know the
place"
Are we going there?"
There was another pause, and then be
began again:
"Who was it that sent you to bring wa
ter from the wood at this hour?"
Madame Thenardier."
The man continued with an accent
which he strOve TO render careless, blu: in
which there was, for all that, a singular
tremOr. who is this Madame Thenar-
dier?'
she is my mistress" the child said,
"and keeps the inn."
THE inn?" remarked the man, "well, I
am going 10 lodge there tonight. Show
me the way"
"We are going to il now"
Though the man walked rather quickly,
COsette had no difficulty in keeping up
with him. She no longer felt tired and
from time to time raised her ewes to this
man with q sort of aimnes and conf
dence. She felt within her something
that resembled hope and joy. After the
lapse of a few minutes the man continued:
"Does Madame Thenardier keep no SER
vants?"
"No, sir"
SIS there no one but your"
"NO, sir"
There was another silence, then Cosette
raised her voice, THAT is to say, there are
two little girls"
What little girls?"
"Ponine and Zelma." The child sim
plifed in this way the romantic names
dear to Mime. Thenardier.
"Who are they"
'They are Mime. Thenardier's young la
dies, as you may say-her daughters"
Anu what do they do?"
ooh :" SAID the child, ''they have hand
some dolls, and things all covered with
gold. They play about and amuse them
selves"
"AI day."
eyes, sir"
"And you?"
"Oh, L work"
"Ali day."
The child raised her large eyes, in which
stood a tear, invisible in the darkness, and
replied softly: Eyes, sir" After a silence
she continued: Sometimes, when | have
finished my work and they will allow me,
then | amuse myself"
"In what way?"
"As 1 can they let me be, but / have
not many TOYS. Ponine and Zelma do not
like for me to play with their dolls, and |
have only a little leaden sword. no longer
than that" and she held out her finger.
And which does not cut?"
ooh yes, sir" said the child, sit cuts
salad and chops flies heads oil"
They reached the village, and COsette
guided the stranger through the streets.
When they passed the bakers Cosette did
not think OF the LOAF of bread which she
was to bring in with her. The man had
ceased questioning her and preserved a
silence, but when they had left the church
behind them, On seeing the lighted shops,
he asked Cosetie:
as there any kind of a fair going on?"
mo, sir; this is the night before Christ
mas"
When they approached the inn, Cosette
touched his arm timidly. "Sir?"
what is il, my child?'
"We are close to the house."
"Well?"
"Will you let me carry my bucket
now?"
"Why?"
Because madame will beat me if she
sees hat il has been carried for me-"
The man gave her the bucket, and a
moment later they were at the door of the
pot-house.
CHAPTER VII.
Cosette could not refrain from taking a
sid glance at the large doll which was
still displayed at the toy-shop, and then
tapped at the door 1t opened, and Nine.
Thenardier appeared, candle in hand.
H 0nL - = 40 NJ ~ l. ----I