He never ceased descanting on this subject.

Silvere thereupon became indignant with his uncle Pierre, much to the satisfaction of his uncle Antoine.
The scene was much the same every time the young man called.

He used to come in the evening, while the Macquarts were at dinner.

The father would be swallowing some potato stew with a growl, picking out the pieces of bacon, and watching the dish when it passed into the hands of Jean and Gervaise.
"You see, Silvere," he would say with a sullen rage which was ill-concealed beneath his air of cynical indifference, "more potatoes, always potatoes! We never eat anything else now.

Meat is only for rich people.