[Just a little after ten minutes, Eponine appears at the apartments. She's thin and ragged - perhaps, if she wasn't blackmailing Ella, Ella would feel sorry for her. She makes straight for Ella.]

Madame - do not think of it as blackmail. It is not. I will hide you from Madame Hattie. I promise. If she is bad to me and I am not her step-sister, she must be very bad to you.

[Yep, Hattie. Those slaps and the comments - though you might have apologised - still sting].

This way, I will not lose my house, and you will not have to go back.