In presence of the paralysed woman, she resumed her manner of frigid cruelty and egotistic indifference.

It seemed as though she had tried remorse, and finding no relief had turned her attention to another remedy.

Her sadness was no doubt due to her inability to calm her life.
She observed the impotent old woman with a kind of disdain, as a useless thing that could no longer even serve her for consolation.

She now only bestowed on her the necessary attention to prevent her dying of hunger.
From this moment she dragged herself about the house in silence and dejection.

She multiplied her absences from the shop, going out as frequently as three and four times a week.
It was this change in her mode of life, that surprised and alarmed Laurent.