She lived on from day to day like a child, like a fawning animal yielding to its instincts.

When Macquart was on his rounds, she passed her time in lazy, pensive idleness.

All she did for her children was to kiss and play with them.

Then as soon as her lover returned she would disappear.
Behind Macquart's hovel there was a little yard, separated from the Fouques' property by a wall.

One morning the neighbours were much astonished to find in this wall a door which had not been there the previous evening.