I've fed mother Coupeau without your help, and I can certainly bury her without your help also.

I already once before gave you a bit of my mind; I pick up stray cats, I'm not likely to leave your mother in the mire." Then Madame Lorilleux burst into tears and Lantier had to prevent her from leaving.

The argument became so noisy that Madame Lerat felt she had to go quietly into the little room and glance tearfully at her dead mother, as though fearing to find her awake and listening.

Just at this moment the girls playing in the courtyard, led by Nana, began singing again.
"_Mon Dieu!_ how those children grate on one's nerves with their singing!" said Gervaise, all upset and on the point of sobbing with impatience and sadness.

Turning to the hatter, she said: "Do please make them leave off, and send Nana back to the concierge's with a kick." Madame Lerat and Madame Lorilleux went away to eat lunch, promising to return.