Then, suddenly, she paused with a fixed stare.

So much the worse! They might say what they liked; she would lick their feet if needs be, but she would go and ask the Lorilleuxs to lend her ten sous.
At winter time, up these stairs of the house, the paupers' stairs, there was a constant borrowing of ten sous and twenty sous, petty services which these hungry beggars rendered each other.

Only they would rather have died than have applied to the Lorilleuxs, for they knew they were too tight-fisted.

Thus Gervaise displayed remarkable courage in going to knock at their door.

She felt so frightened in the passage that she experienced the sudden relief of people who ring a dentist's bell.
"Come in!" cried the chainmaker in a sour voice.
How warm and nice it was inside.