Gervaise replied that she had seen herself worse off and had pulled through.

How would she be better off when she no longer had her shop?
That would not put bread into their mouths.

She would, on the contrary, engage some fresh workwomen and work up a fresh connection.
Lantier made the mistake of mentioning Virginie again.

This stirred Gervaise into furious obstinacy.

No! Never! She had always had her suspicions of what was in Virginie's heart.