Then, when the laundress returned home, mother Coupeau called to her that Madame Goujet required her to go round with her clothes, ironed or not; and she was so animated that Gervaise, seeing something was wrong, guessed what had taken place and had a presentiment of the unpleasantness which awaited her.
Very pale, her limbs already trembling, she placed the things in a basket and started off.

For years past she had not returned the Goujets a sou of their money.

The debt still amounted to four hundred and twenty-five francs.

She always spoke of her embarrassments and received the money for the washing.

It filled her with shame, because she seemed to be taking advantage of the blacksmith's friendship to make a fool of him.