They sold the table and had the chairs recaned.

From the very first the old lady took over the sweeping.

She washed the dishes and made herself useful, happy to have settled her problem.
The Lorilleux were furious enough to explode, especially since Madame Lerat was now back on good terms with the Coupeaus.

One day the two sisters, the flower-maker and the chainmaker came to blows about Gervaise because Madame Lerat dared to express approval of the way she was taking care of their mother.

When she noticed how this upset the other, she went on to remark that Gervaise had magnificent eyes, eyes warm enough to set paper on fire.