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Mme Forestier did not open the jewel-box as Mme Loisel feared she would. What would she think if she had to perceive the substitution? What should she say? Would she take her for a robber?
Mme Loisel now knows the horrible life of necessity. She did her part, however, completely and heroically. It was necessary to pay this frightful debt. She would pay it. They sent away the maid; they changed their lodgings; they rented some rooms in an attic.
She learned the odious work of a kitchen. She washed the dishes. She washed the soiled linen, their clothes and dishcloths, which she hung on the line to dry; she took down the refuse to the street each morning and brought up the water, stopping at each landing to catch her breath. And, clothed like a woman of the people, she went to the grocer’s, the butcher’s, and the fruiterer’s, with her basket on her arm, shopping, haggling to the last sou of her miserable money.
Explanation:
Thankfully, Mme Forestier did not open the jewel box, as Mme Loisel was worried. Mme Loisel was concerned that if her friend noticed the change in the jewel, she might think she had stolen the necklace.
Even though Mme Loisel was able to solve the issue with the aid of her husband, she was aware of the significant cost she had incurred. Most importantly, she realised that she would had to do something to repay her husband's debts.
In order to save money, they dismissed their maid from her job, changed their house, and rented rooms on the roof of a building. She started to wash and dry the clothes. She used to go down to the street each morning to get water. She had learnt to live her life more frugally as she used to dress like an ordinary person and go to the grocery shop, the butcher shop, and the fruit shop with a basket to buy the things of daily use.
Mme Loisel did not live a luxurious life before losing the necklace, but it was nonetheless a simple one, and she did not suffer greatly because her husband's salary was sufficient for them to live a respectable life. However, everything changed in a single night. Mme Loisel's life deteriorated into one that was even worse than it had been before, becoming dismal and pitiful.
Meaning of difficult words:
S.No | Words | Meaning |
1. | Attic | A space or room inside a roof of a building |
2. | Lodging | Temporary accommodation |
3. | Grocer | A person who sells foodstuffs, meats, dairy products, etc |
4. | Haggle | To bargain |
5. | Odious | Extremely hateful |
6. | Sou | Refers to a former French coin which has a low value |
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2007). The Necklace - Guy De Maupassant (pp 39-45). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
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