Besides she generally got on pretty well with Gervaise.

On other days when they plagued one another as happens in all families, the old woman grumbled saying she was wretchedly unfortunate in thus being at her daughter-in-law's mercy.
In point of fact she probably had some affection for Madame Lorilleux who after all was her daughter.
"Ah!" continued Gervaise, "you wouldn't be so fat, would you, if you were living with them?
And no coffee, no snuff, no little luxuries of any sort! Tell me, would they have given you two mattresses to your bed ?" "No, that's very certain," replied mother Coupeau.

"When they arrive I shall place myself so as to have a good view of the door to see the faces they'll make." Thinking of the faces they would make gave them pleasure ahead of time.
However, they couldn't remain standing there admiring the table.

The Coupeaus had lunched very late on just a bite or two, because the stoves were already in use, and because they did not want to dirty any dishes needed for the evening.

By four o'clock the two women were working very hard.