Now they would have to work for four or five years before they would succeed in saving such a sum.

Her regret was at not being able to start in business at once; she would have earned all the home required, without counting on Coupeau, letting him take months to get into the way of work again; she would no longer have been uneasy, but certain of the future and free from the secret fears which sometimes seized her when he returned home very gay and singing, and relating some joke of that animal My-Boots, whom he had treated to a drink.
One evening, Gervaise being at home alone, Goujet entered, and did not hurry off again, according to his habit.

He seated himself, and smoked as he watched her.

He probably had something very serious to say; he thought it over, let it ripen without being able to put it into suitable words.

At length, after a long silence, he appeared to make up his mind, and took his pipe out of his mouth to say all in a breath: "Madame Gervaise, will you allow me to lend you some money ?" She was leaning over an open drawer, looking for some dish-cloths.