ified. When Madame Raquin fell asleep and
lowered her lids, her countenance, which was then quite white and mute,
was really that of a corpse. Therese and Laurent, who no longer felt
anyone with them, then made a noise until the paralysed woman raised her
eyelids and looked at them. In this manner they compelled her to remain
awake.

They regarded her as a distraction that drew them from their bad dreams.
Since she had been infirm, they had to attend to her like a child. The
care they lavished on her forced them to scatter their thoughts. In the
morning Laurent lifted her up and bore her to her armchair; at night he
placed her on her bed again. She was still heavy, and he had to exert
all his strength to raise her delicately in his arms, and carry her. It
was also he who rolled her armchair along. The other attentions fell
to Therese. She dressed and fed the impotent old lady, and sought to
understand her slightest wish.

For a few days Madame Raquin preserved the use of her hands. She could
write on a slate, and in this way asked for what she required; then the
hands withered, and it became impossible for her to raise them or hold
a pencil. From that moment her eyes were her only language, and it
was necessary for her niece to guess what she desired. The young
woman devoted herself to the hard duties of sick-nurse, which gave her
occupation for body and mind that did her much good.

So as not to remain face to face, the married couple rolled the armchair
of the poor old lady into the dining-room, the first thing in the
morning. They placed her between them, as if she were necessary to their
existence. They caused her to be present at their meals, and at all
their interviews. When she signified the desire to retire to her
bedroom, they feigned not to understand. She was only of use to
interrupt their private conversations, and had no right to live apart.

At eight o'clock, Laurent went to his studio, Therese descended to the
shop, while the paralyzed woman remained alone in the dining-room until
noon; then, after lunch, she found herself without company again until
six o'clock. Frequently, during the day, her niece ran upstairs, and,
hovering round her, made sure she did not require anything. The friends
of the family were at a loss for sufficiently laudatory phrases wherein
to extol the virtues of Therese and Laurent.

The Thursday receptions continued, the impotent old lady being present,
as in the past. Her armc