She would do her own washing from now on.

It would naturally have been very helpful if the Coupeaus had been able to return her the money lent them by her son; but she was not going to set the lawyers on them, as they were unable to pay.

As she was talking about the debt, Gervaise lowered her eyes in embarrassment.
"All the same," continued the lace-maker, "by pinching yourselves a little you could manage to pay it off.

For really now, you live very well; and spend a great deal, I'm sure.

If you were only to pay off ten francs a month--" She was interrupted by the sound of Goujet's voice as he called: "Mamma! Mamma!" And when she returned to her seat, which was almost immediately, she changed the conversation.