The family did not understand why she continued to bear a grudge against the hatter.

Madame Lerat now came over every evening.
She considered Lantier as utterly irresistible and said that most ladies would be happy to fall into his arms.

Madame Boche declared that her own virtue would not be safe if she were ten years younger.

There was a sort of silent conspiracy to push Gervaise into the arms of Lantier, as if all the women around her felt driven to satisfy their own longings by giving her a lover.

Gervaise didn't understand this because she no longer found Lantier seductive.