The family, all together in the back room, was shaking hands.
Short pauses occurred interrupted by rapid whisperings, a tiresome and feverish waiting with sudden rushes of skirts--Madame Lorilleux who had forgotten her handkerchief, or else Madame Lerat who was trying to borrow a prayer-book.

Everyone, on arriving, beheld the open coffin in the centre of the little room before the bed; and in spite of oneself, each stood covertly studying it, calculating that plump mother Coupeau would never fit into it.

They all looked at each other with this thought in their eyes, though without communicating it.

But there was a slight pushing at the front door.

Monsieur Madinier, extending his arms, came and said in a low grave voice: "Here they are!" It was not the hearse though.