And he was no talker, his mouth almost seemed sewn up, as he sat with his eyes fixed on Gervaise, and only removed his pipe to laugh at everything she said.

When they were working late on a Saturday he would stay on, and appeared to amuse himself more than if he had gone to a theatre.
Sometimes the women stayed in the shop ironing until three in the morning.

A lamp hung from the ceiling and spread a brilliant light making the linen look like fresh snow.

The apprentice would put up the shop shutters, but since these July nights were scorching hot, the door would be left open.

The later the hour the more casual the women became with their clothes while trying to be comfortable.