All sorts of things," he would answer quietly.
The workwomen tried to joke with him to cheer him up, saying he was worrying over his love affairs, but he scarcely listened to them before he fell back into his habitual attitude of meditative melancholy.
Virginie now frequently spoke to Gervaise of Lantier.

She seemed to find amusement in filling her mind with ideas of her old lover just for the pleasure of embarrassing her by making suggestions.

One day she related that she had met him; then, as the laundress took no notice, she said nothing further, and it was only on the morrow that she added he had spoken about her for a long time, and with a great show of affection.
Gervaise was much upset by these reports whispered in her ear in a corner of the shop.

The mention of Lantier's name always caused a worried sensation in the pit of her stomach.

She certainly thought herself strong; she wished to lead the life of an industrious woman, because labor is the half of happiness.