chez elles = chez ces dames

10. la noble fisuniliarité, the condescending familiarity, gênerons affability.

19. que les grands froids n'avaient fledt qu'augmenter ; lit. the great colds had done nothing but increase ; which the chUls of winter had but in^ireased. Note the use of the plural : les froids, les chaleurs. Froid, chaleur, in the sinffular, are purely abstract and unlimited. In the plural tiaey cease to be abstract and take the sensé of température which is measured and determined. Hère, therefore, les grands froids would mean the ttsual number of degrees which the thermometer marks at this season.

21. se soigner ; lit. to take care of herself ; to nurse herself.

28. en apparence, apparerUly^ as it seemed. See note p. 2, 1. 26.

dans les dernières cletsses ; lit. among the last classes ; in the lowest strata.

7. 2. Quoi qu'il en soit ; lit. what (ever) it (the case of it) be ; be it as it Tnay, anyhow.

3. le peu de lecture qu'elle avait appris ; see note p. 10, 1. 30.