"So can I," Nancy says with pride. She knows what it is to be a poor girl like these two, and be able to read. How important it is. How rare. "We're allowed to take the books home, to borrow." She gestures to her own stack of books by her bed. "So we can look an' more."

Nancy's about to move into the bathroom to get the tub started, when she realizes Eponine is still standing in the doorway. She frowns, and takes a few small steps towards her new friend.

"I swear to you, Eponine, I ain't going to get you in trouble. Honor amongst thieves, yeah? Girls like us, we stick together. The things we've had to do back home? We don't got to do a single one here. I promise." She holds a hand out for Eponine to take, to step across the threshold.