[quote=@Ariamis]
"Aaah, dreams. They can be so wonderful. Don't you agree, Fantine?"
[/quote]

Having received her orders, Eponine bowed and marched out.  Fantine looked after Eponine with slight concern, but turned back to Maria when she asked her question, "Yes, Lady Maria.  We can't really live without hope, can we?  If we don't aspire to something, we wither...and die."  Fantine looked at Maria and smiled to hide the sudden onrush of pain in her heart.  Eponine had told her that dreams were unnecessary, Eponine had told Fantine to stop dreaming; that in the end, everyone would be betrayed by their hopes.  Fantine could see that Eponine had abandoned hope and had replaced her will to live with a programmed obedience that kept her ticking, like a windup doll, like a zombie.  Though Maria hid her emotions behind a smile, at least she had an ambition, something to live for, so Fantine could be happy for Maria in that way.