"How do you amuse yourself?"
"In the best way I can.
They let me alone; but I have not many playthings.
Ponine and Zelma will not let me play with their dolls.
I have only a little lead sword, no longer than that."
The child held up her tiny finger.
"And it will not cut?"
"Yes, sir," said the child; "it cuts salad and the heads of flies."
They reached the village.
Cosette guided the stranger through the streets.
They passed the bakeshop, but Cosette did not think of the bread which she had been ordered to fetch.
The man had ceased to ply her with questions, and now preserved a gloomy silence.
When they had left the church behind them, the man, on perceiving all the open-air booths, asked Cosette:--
"So there is a fair going on here?"
"No, sir; it is Christmas."
As they approached the tavern, Cosette timidly touched his arm:--
"Monsieur?"
"What, my child?"
"We are quite near the house."
"Well?"