How we cite our quotes: (Section.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Mother Liébard was overjoyed to see her mistress. She served them lunch—a sirloin, tripe, black pudding, a fricassee of chicken, sparkling cider, a stewed fruit tart and plums in brandy—all the while complimenting Madame, who seemed in the best of health, Mademoiselle, who had grown 'so beautiful', Monsieur Paul who had 'broadened out' remarkably, not to mention their deceased grandparents, whom the Liébards had known, having been in the family's service for generations. (2.42)
The relationships between masters and servants can seem very friendly. The way Mother Liébard cooks for Madame Aubain and her kids you'd think she really was their mother. But the last clause in this quote gives away the fact that, as familiar as they are, there is always a division between the boss and the worker.
Quote #5
They would often come across them outside the kitchen, or when they were out walking. The husband never appeared. (2.52)
Félicité's sister and son show up either outside of Madame Aubain's kitchen or when the family is away from the house. This is because, as lower class people, they can't make a proper visit to Madame Aubain's bourgeois home. They're on the servant side of the system, and have to know their place, which reminds us of a certain hit television series…hmm, we wonder why.
Quote #6
It was clear that they were exploiting her—much to the annoyance of Madame Aubain, who in any case did not like the fact that Félicité's nephew was so familiar towards her son. (2.53)
Félicité is happy to help her family members, who are even less fortunate than she. But Madame Aubain isn't having it. She seems to think that she's protecting Félicité from being taken advantage of, but it seems more like she's protecting her bourgeois son from being tainted by lower class friends. The horror!