Since her niece's magnificent elevation Mme Lerat had been puffed up with vanity.

She rarely presented herself in the Avenue de Villiers, for she was pleased to remark that it wasn't her place to do so, but she enjoyed triumphs in her own street.
She was delighted when the young woman arrived in dresses that had cost four or five thousand francs and would be occupied during the whole of the next day in showing off her presents and in citing prices which quite stupefied the neighbors.

As often as not, Nana kept Sunday free for the sake of "her family," and on such occasions, if Muffat invited her, she would refuse with the smile of a good little shopwoman.

It was impossible, she would answer; she was dining at her aunt's; she was going to see Baby.

Moreover, that poor little man Louiset was always ill.