Castle in a Dream
By Jeanine Prouvaire

Mademoiselle Fantine is ill. One can tell that just by looking at her. Her face is pale, and her breathing strained. She's hallucinating. Right now she's on a bed, certainly, but she's also in a beautiful fortress high, high above. And someone else is there... the one person she would most like to see.

"Cosette."

She's such a small child, she thinks, as she takes the girl into her arms. "Oh, Cosette, I've missed you so!"

The child says nothing, but the smile on her face speaks volumes. "Are you weary, Cosette?"

The unfortunate child nods, and the woman takes her into her arms, holding her safe. And then she begins to sing a song of sweet sorrow, and her voice is rich and sweet. Soon the child falls asleep, and the woman watches over her.

Cosette will live, because of me, she thinks.

And then all of a sudden she's in two places at once. She sees her child in her arms, but she also sees that saintly mayor. He is talking, and he says that he will care for Cosette for her. And suddenly she understands. This dream will become her reality, and soon. "Yes, Monsieur. Take my Cosette, and love her!"

As she says this, the child in her arms begins to stir. "I must go!" she thinks. Slowly Monsieur Le Maire fades away, and Cosette awakes in her arms.

"Cosette, I love you very much," Fantine says.

"I must go," says Cosette. "I will return."

And she walks away from the woman in white, and awakes in Montfermeil.

"Get up, you lazy good-for-nothing! Go sweep!" a voice screeches in her ear.

"Yes, Madame." And Cosette fetches the broom and begins to sweep. But she will remember that lady all in white, and her castle on a cloud.

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