In short, she was sinking, and as she sank lower and lower she talked of extending her business.

Instead she went deeper into debt.

Clemence left around the middle of the summer because there was no longer enough work for two women and she had not been paid in several weeks.
During this impending ruin, Coupeau and Lantier were, in effect, devouring the shop and growing fat on the ruin of the establishment.
At table they would challenge each other to take more helpings and slap their rounded stomachs to make more room for dessert.
The great subject of conversation in the neighborhood was as to whether Lantier had really gone back to his old footing with Gervaise.

On this point opinions were divided.

According to the Lorilleuxs, Clump-Clump was doing everything she could to hook Lantier again, but he would no longer have anything to do with her because she was getting old and faded and he had plenty of younger girls that were prettier.