Her character was full of pliancy, devotedness, and effusion, which contributed to make up her temperament of a stout and affable good lady, and prompted her to live in a state of active tenderness.
Since her niece no longer spoke, and remained there pale and feeble, her own life became intolerable, while the shop seemed to her like a tomb.
What she required was to find some warm affection beside her, some liveliness, some caresses, something sweet and gay which would help her to wait peacefully for death.

It was these unconscious desires that made her accept the idea of marrying Therese again; she even forgot her son a little.

In the existence of the tomb that she was leading, came a sort of awakening, something like a will, and fresh occupation for the mind.
She sought a husband for her niece, and this search gave her matter for consideration.
The choice of a husband was an important business.

The poor old lady thought much more of her own comfort than of Therese.

She wished to marry her niece in order to be happy herself, for she had keen misgivings lest the new husband of the young woman should come and trouble the last hours of her old age.