resilience amid hardship. The opening of the novel introduces us to the bread seller as she witnesses an abbé’s clumsy attempt to row a boat across the lake, which triggers her reminiscences about her past and the challenges of her current life. Through her conversation with a passerby, we learn about her family, her health, and her concerns over her livelihood amidst competition. She expresses lament for her physical condition, her mother’s longevity, and the complexities of social assistance in her life while maintaining a sharp wit and engaging storytelling style. This early glimpse into her thoughts and interactions sets up a richly detailed exploration of the struggles faced by the less fortunate in society, allowing the reader to grasp both the character's depth and the socio-economic realities of the time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)