Monsieur Lantier had waited on the pavement in front of the house while his lady friend went in alone.

Then she had beckoned to him from the window to join her.
No matter how Clemence went on with the story Gervaise went on peacefully ironing a white dress.

Sometimes she smiled faintly.

These southerners, she said, are all crazy about women; they have to have them no matter what, even if they come from a dung heap.

When Lantier came in that evening, Gervaise was amused when Clemence teased him about the blonde.