On the ninth day, the doctor finally said that Coupeau would live.

Gervaise collapsed into a chair, her body limp from fatigue.

That night she consented to sleep for two hours with her head against the foot of the bed.
Coupeau's accident had created quite a commotion in the family.

Mother Coupeau passed the nights with Gervaise; but as early as nine o'clock she fell asleep on a chair.

Every evening, on returning from work, Madame Lerat went a long round out of her way to inquire how her brother was getting on.