A smell of mildew hung in the atmosphere, spiders came down from the ceiling, the floor was but rarely swept.
But what put the customers to flight was the strange way in which Therese sometimes welcomed them.

When she happened to be upstairs, receiving blows from Laurent or agitated by a shock of terror, and the bell at the shop door tinkled imperiously, she had to go down, barely taking time to do up her hair or brush away the tears.

On such occasions she served the persons awaiting her roughly; sometimes she even spared herself the trouble of serving, answering from the top of the staircase, that she no longer kept what was asked for.

This kind of off-hand behaviour, was not calculated to retain custom.
The little work-girls of the quarter, who were used to the sweet amiability of Madame Raquin, were driven away by the harshness and wild looks of Therese.

When the latter took Suzanne with her to keep her company, the defection became complete.