All the children loved the snow. Their parents bundled them up in fur capes and warm shoes and sent them out to play until their cheeks grew pink and their noses grew numb. Then they could run back inside to the fire.

But Cosette had no parents, no fur, and no shoes. She didn't go outside to play; she went outside to work. When her cheeks grew pink and her nose grew numb, and her tears froze on her cheeks, she still couldn't go back inside. There was always more water to haul. Like tonight.

And it was Christmas Eve.