The laundress kept looking in despair at a very pretty chintz pattern costing eighteen sous the piece, and thought all the other papers hideous.

At length the concierge gave in; he would arrange the matter, and, if necessary, would make out there was a piece more used than was really the case.

So, on her way home, Gervaise purchased some tarts for Pauline.

She did not like being behindhand--one always gained by behaving nicely to her.
The shop was to be ready in four days.

The workmen were there three weeks.