If he happened occasionally to neglect the tiresome job, he apologised with the humility of a valet the following day.

On Thursdays he assisted Madame Raquin to light the fire, to do the honours of the house, and displayed all kinds of gentle attentions that charmed the old mercer.
Therese peacefully watched the activity of his movements round about her.

The pallidness of her face had departed.

She appeared in better health, more smiling and gentle.

It was only rarely that her lips, becoming pinched in a nervous contraction, produced two deep pleats which conveyed to her countenance a strange expression of grief and fright.
The two sweethearts no longer sought to see one another in private.