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And then you will see her ears； and then you will see her tail and it will amaze you。 And you will say to me； ‘Ah！ Mon Dieu！' and I will say to you： ‘Yes； Madame； it is my little girl。
Little girls are made like that just at present。'〃
Azelma listened admiringly to Eponine。
In the meantime； the drinkers had begun to sing an obscene song； and to laugh at it until the ceiling shook。
Thenardier acpanied and encouraged them。
As birds make nests out of everything； so children make a doll out of anything which es to hand。
While Eponine and Azelma were bundling up the cat； Cosette； on her side； had dressed up her sword。 That done； she laid it in her arms； and sang to it softly； to lull it to sleep。
The doll is one of the most imperious needs and； at the same time； one of the most charming instincts of feminine childhood。 To care for； to clothe； to deck； to dress； to undress； to redress； to teach； scold a little； to rock； to dandle； to lull to sleep； to imagine that something is some one；therein lies the whole woman's future。
While dreaming and chattering； making tiny outfits； and baby clothes； while sewing little gowns； and corsages and bodices； the child grows into a young girl； the young girl into a big girl； the big girl into a woman。
The first child is the continuation of the last doll。
A little girl without a doll is almost as unhappy； and quite as impossible； as a woman without children。
So Cosette had made herself a doll out of the sword。
Madame Thenardier approached the yellow man； 〃My husband is right；〃 she thought； 〃perhaps it is M。 Laffitte； there are such queer rich men！〃
She came and set her elbows on the table。
〃Monsieur；〃 said she。
At this word； Monsieur； the man turned； up to that time； the Thenardier had addressed him only as brave homme or bonhomme。
〃You see； sir；〃 she pursued； assuming a sweetish air that was even more repulsive to behold than her fierce mien； 〃I am willing that the child should play； I do not oppose it； but it is good for once； because you are generous。
You see； she has nothing； she must needs work。〃
〃Then this child is not yours？〃 demanded the man。
〃Oh！ mon Dieu！ no； sir！ she is a little beggar whom we have taken in through charity； a sort of imbecile child。
She must have water on the brain； she has a large head； as you see。
We do what we can for her； for we are not rich； we have written in vain to her native place； and have received no reply these six months。 It must be that her mother is dead。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the man； and fell into his revery once more。
〃Her mother didn't amount to much；〃 added the Thenardier； 〃she abandoned her child。〃
During the whole of this conversation Cosette； as though warned by some instinct that she was under discussion； had not taken her eyes from the Thenardier's face； she listened vaguely； she caught a few words here and there。
Meanwhile； the drinkers； all three…quarters intoxicated； were repeating their unclean refrain with redoubled gayety； it was a highly spiced and wanton song； in which the Virgin and the infant Jesus were introduced。
The Thenardier went off to take part in the shouts of laughter。
Cosette； from her post under the table； gazed at the fire； which was reflected from her fixed eyes。
She had begun to rock the sort of baby which she had made； and； as she rocked it； she sang in a low voice； 〃My mother is dead！ my mother is dead！ my mother is dead！〃
On being urged afresh by the hostess； the yellow man； 〃the millionaire；〃 consented at last to take supper。
〃What does Monsieur wish？〃
〃Bread and cheese；〃 said the man。
〃Decidedly； he is a beggar〃 thought Madame Thenardier。
The drunken men were still singing their song； and the child under the table was singing hers。
All at once； Cosette paused； she had just turned round and caught sight of the little Thenardiers' doll； which they had abandoned for the cat and had left on the floor a few paces from the kitchen table。
Then she dropped the swaddled sword； which only half met her needs； and cast her eyes slowly round the room。
Madame Thenardier was whispering to her husband and counting over some money； Ponine and Zelma were playing with the cat； the travellers were eating or drinking or singing； not a glance was fixed on her。 She had not a moment to lose； she crept out from under the table on her hands and knees； made sure once more that no one was watching her； then she slipped quickly up to the doll and seized it。
An instant later she was in her place again； seated motionless； and only turned so as to cast a shadow on the doll which she held in her arms。 The happiness of playing with a doll was so rare for her that it contained all the violence of voluptuousness。
No one had seen her； except the traveller； who was slowly devouring his meagre supper。
This joy lasted about a quarter of an hour。
But with all the precautions that Cosette had taken she did not perceive that one of the doll's legs stuck out and that the fire on the hearth lighted it up very vividly。
That pink and shining foot； projecting from the shadow； suddenly struck the eye of Azelma； who said to Eponine； 〃Look！ sister。〃
The two little girls paused in stupefaction； Cosette had dared to take their doll！
Eponine rose； and； without releasing the cat； she ran to her mother； and began to tug at her skirt。
〃Let me alone！〃 said her mother； 〃what do you want？〃
〃Mother；〃 said the child； 〃look there！〃
And she pointed to Cosette。
Cosette； absorbed in the ecstasies of possession； no longer saw or heard anything。
Madame Thenardier's countenance assumed that peculiar expression which is posed of the terrible mingled with the trifles of life； and which has caused this style of woman to be named megaeras。
On this occasion； wounded pride exasperated her wrath still further。 Cosette had overstepped all bounds； Cosette had laid violent hands on the doll belonging to 〃these young ladies。〃
A czarina who should see a muzhik trying on her imperial son's blue ribbon would wear no other face。
She shrieked in a voice ren