In short, she gathered an agreeable and befitting circle about her.

People amused themselves at her house; they said so at least, which is quite enough to attract society in Paris.

Rabourdin was so absorbed in completing his great and serious work that he took no notice of the sudden reappearance of luxury in the bosom of his family.
Thus the wife and the husband were besieging the same fortress, working on parallel lines, but without each other's knowledge..