And it never did for her to give them tit-for-tat.

In the beginning, whenever one of them yelled at her, she would appeal to the other, but this seldom worked.

Coupeau had a foul mouth and called her horrible things.

Lantier chose his insults carefully, but they often hurt her even more.
But one can get used to anything.

Soon their nasty remarks and all the wrongs done her by these two men slid off her smooth skin like water off a duck's back.