It was very pleasant inside the shop! There was never any ice on the window-panes like there was at the grocer's and the hosier's opposite.

The stove was always stuffed with coke and kept things as hot as a Turkish bath.

With the laundry steaming overhead you could almost imagine it was summer.

You were quite comfortable with the doors closed and so much warmth everywhere that you were tempted to doze off with your eyes open.

Gervaise laughed and said it reminded her of summer in the country.