She spent four nights cleaning everything, and mending the smallest holes in her stockings and chemise.
On Friday night, the eve of the great day, Gervaise and Coupeau had still a good deal of running about to do up till eleven o'clock, after returning home from work.

Then before separating for the night they spent an hour together in the young woman's room, happy at being about to be released from their awkward position.

In spite of the fact that they had originally resolved not to put themselves out to impress the neighbors, they had ended by taking it seriously and working themselves till they were weary.

By the time they said "Good-night," they were almost asleep on their feet.

They breathed a great sigh of relief now that everything was ready.
Coupeau's witnesses were to be Monsieur Madinier and Bibi-the-Smoker.
They were counting on Lorilleux and Boche for Gervaise's witnesses.