Goujet, who had noticed Gervaise's emotion, gave the newcomer a sour look.

As an awkward pause ensued Coupeau simply said: "A friend of mine." And turning to his wife, added: "Come, stir yourself! Perhaps there's still some hot coffee left." Gervaise, feeling meek and stupid, looked at them one after the other.
At first, when her husband pushed her old lover into the shop, she buried her head between her hands, the same as she instinctively did on stormy days at each clap of thunder.

She could not believe it possible; the walls would fall in and crush them all.

Then, when she saw the two sitting together peacefully, she suddenly accepted it as quite natural.
A happy feeling of languor benumbed her, retained her all in a heap at the edge of the table, with the sole desire of not being bothered.

_Mon Dieu!_ what is the use of putting oneself out when others do not, and when things arrange themselves to the satisfaction of everybody?
She got up to see if there was any coffee left.
In the back-room the children had fallen asleep.