Only a dim light came into the room through the cracks in the shutters.

The door to the little room stood half open, and from it came the deep silence of death.

Children's laughter echoed in the courtyard.

Suddenly they heard the voice of Nana, who had escaped from the Boches to whom she had been sent.

She was giving commands in her shrill voice and the children were singing a song about a donkey.
Gervaise waited until it was quiet to say: "We're not rich certainly; but all the same we wish to act decently.