For the first time, Cosette finds out that her mom has been sending her letters. The problem is that the Thenediars of course isn’t going to read the letter to her. Neither is she able to read the letter herself. This episode skips another few years, and focuses entirely on Cosette’s development as a character.

A letter arrives from Cosette’s mom, together with more money for the Thenediars and a request for them to read the letter to Cosette. The money is quickly taken, while the letter thrown into the fireplace. Cosette continues to be mistreated, and accused of stealing eponine’s bread when she tries to retrieve the letter.

 Meanwhile later that day, Eponine is shown going home with a boy (Toron) she obviously likes. Returning home to find Cosette sweeping as usual, she asks Cosette to clean her shoes. However, cosette simple plucks some grass telling her that they are very effective if she does it herself. Of course eponine runs away crying for herself, leaving Cosette sighing that with this incident, eponine would definitely not help to read the letter.

Meanwhile, Cosette’s mom is building up a reputation of not hanging around with the other workers. Rumours spread around that she might have a secret job elsewhere. She’s obviously very kind at work though, and simply wants to save up money quicker. Doing some window shopping, she thinks about how she’ll definitely see Cosette by her next birthday. In town, the old man from the previous episode is mouthing off about Madelein to Javert. Javert orders him to stop sprouting nonsense.

 Back to Cosette, who is asked to deliver lunch to Eponine. Gavroche insist on tagging along, together with Chouchou, who is a big dog by now. At the school, Cosette peeps through the window at what is being taught, only to be seen by Toron. Eponine too is horrified and ashamed by the presence of Cosette and Gavroche.

Going home, Cosette recounts what she learnt peeping through the window, showing how quick to learn she is. She bumps into the new Priest though, who teaches her how to write her own name. In the end, they end up talking till very late. Arriving home late, the Thenediars act all nice in front of the priest, but proceeded to scold Cosette after he is gone.

But luckily for her, Cosette manages to grab hold of her mom’s letter before going off to settle all her household chores. She recognised her own name, which appeared many times too, giving her much joy.

The episode closes with a scene where the old man earlier is involved in an accident and ends up getting stucked under his own cart.

Thoughts

Ain’t cosette such a nice girl. Somehow I always feel happy that she has that rebellious side still, like how she gave the grass to Eponine. She’s a very smart girl though, and her circumstance is very sad.