There was even a goat tied to a stake.
"It's strange," remarked Gervaise.

"You'd think you were in the country." The went to sit under a dead tree.

Gervaise placed the laundry basket by her feet.
"Yes," Gervaise said, "I had an errand to do, and so I came out." She felt deeply ashamed and was afraid to try to explain.

Yet she realized that they had come here to discuss it.

It remained a troublesome burden.
Then, all in a rush, with tears in her eyes, she told him of the death that morning of Madame Bijard, her washerwoman.