She felt her hands shaking, and clasped them together to stop it. In French she said, "I am your mother ... yes. My name is Fantine." She smiled, blinking to keep the tears from spilling over. She was just as beautiful as Valjean had said; a slim sprite of a girl who looked well-fed and healthy.
She didn't dare move, not before the girl. "I'm ... I was so happy to hear you were here. You and your Papa." She smiled, still blinking. She didn't want to cry; she didn't want to do anything to scare Cosette or make her feel pressured.