The union was spoken of in the family as a necessary and positive thing.

Madame Raquin had said: "We will wait until Therese is one-and-twenty." And they waited patiently, without excitement, and without a blush.
Camille, whose blood had become impoverished by illness, had remained a little boy in the eyes of his cousin.

He kissed her as he kissed his mother, by habit, without losing any of his egotistic tranquillity.

He looked upon her as an obliging comrade who helped him to amuse himself, and who, if occasion offered, prepared him an infusion.

When playing with her, when he held her in his arms, it was as if he had a boy to deal with.