[She gasps, and it's all she can do to prevent herself from throwing her arms around this big stranger.]
Do you truly mean it? Monsieur, on my life, when it is that you need a favour, or a message taking, or... - well... I will do it for you. Or matches. I think I am to be a match girl here, but I don't want to do that. There is no money in matches and I would rather not sleep outside, you know?
[Carefully, she takes a biscuit, holds it to her nose and inhales. And, slowly, slowly, she sticks her tongue out to lick it, before biting a little off. Her whole dirty face lights up, and she sprays crumbs as she speaks.]
Oh, it is how I imagined it would taste. And sugar! There is surely sugar in it! You know, I had biscuits when I was little, but for years and years, not a single one. Not a fresh one. Perhaps, when someone threw a bit away... but they go soggy when they are left in the rain. I used to drive myself mad outside the bakeries, smelling them. I used to say, 'Now Eponine, sit here and someone will give you one, just to make you go away.' But they didn't, and now you, in just five minutes, have given me a whole barrel of them. It is truly magic.
no subject
Do you truly mean it? Monsieur, on my life, when it is that you need a favour, or a message taking, or... - well... I will do it for you. Or matches. I think I am to be a match girl here, but I don't want to do that. There is no money in matches and I would rather not sleep outside, you know?
[Carefully, she takes a biscuit, holds it to her nose and inhales. And, slowly, slowly, she sticks her tongue out to lick it, before biting a little off. Her whole dirty face lights up, and she sprays crumbs as she speaks.]
Oh, it is how I imagined it would taste. And sugar! There is surely sugar in it! You know, I had biscuits when I was little, but for years and years, not a single one. Not a fresh one. Perhaps, when someone threw a bit away... but they go soggy when they are left in the rain. I used to drive myself mad outside the bakeries, smelling them. I used to say, 'Now Eponine, sit here and someone will give you one, just to make you go away.' But they didn't, and now you, in just five minutes, have given me a whole barrel of them. It is truly magic.