It'll be something to laugh at." Mother Coupeau continued to visit the two houses, agreeing with everybody and even managing to get asked oftener to dinner, by complaisantly listening one night to her daughter and the next night to her daughter-in-law.
However, Madame Lerat did not go to visit the Coupeaus because she had argued with Gervaise about a Zouave who had cut the nose of his mistress with a razor.

She was on the side of the Zouave, saying it was evidence of a great passion, but without explaining further her thought.

Then, she had made Madame Lorilleux even more angry by telling her that Clump-clump had called her "Cow Tail" in front of fifteen or twenty people.

Yes, that's what the Boches and all the neighbors called her now, "Cow Tail." Gervaise remained calm and cheerful among all these goings-on.

She often stood by the door of her shop greeting friends who passed by with a nod and a smile.