"You know they lied last month when the woman went about everywhere saying that she had lost a piece of gold chain as she was taking the work home.
The idea! There's no fear of her ever losing anything! It was simply a way of making themselves out very poor and of not giving you your five francs." "As yet I've only seen my five francs twice," said mother Coupeau.
"I'll bet next month they'll concoct some other story.

That explains why they cover their window up when they have a rabbit to eat.

Don't you see?
One would have the right to say to them: 'As you can afford a rabbit you can certainly give five francs to your mother!' Oh! they're just rotten! What would have become of you if I hadn't taken you to live with us ?" Mother Coupeau slowly shook her head.

That day she was all against the Lorilleuxs, because of the great feast the Coupeaus were giving.

She loved cooking, the little gossipings round the saucepans, the place turned topsy-turvy by the revels of saints' days.