CBSE Class 10 English The Necklace Worksheet Set B

Short Answer Questions 

Question. Why was Matilda always unhappy?
OR
Why did Matilda suffer incessantly?
Answer. Matilda was always unhappy. She was not satisfied with what life and fate had given to her. She believed that she was born in a family of petty clerks through some error of destiny. She dreamt of a big and grand house, marvellous dishes, good dresses and jewels. She hated to give an image of poverty. But the harsh realities of life made her unhappy and dissatisfied with her lot.

Question. Why did Matilda throw the invitation card spitefully upon the table?
OR
Why did Matilda ask her husband to give the invitation card to some colleague?
Answer. One evening, Matilda’s husband returned home carrying in his hand a large envelope. She drew out a printed card quickly, but threw it on the table spitefully. It was an invitation for a ball arranged by the Minister of Public Instruction. She complained that she didn't have a suitable dress for that grand occasion. She asked him to give that invitation to some colleague whose wife was better fitted out than her.

Question. What and why did Matilda (Mrs Loisel) put up another demand after her husband gave her 400 francs for buying a pretty dress?
Answer. Mrs Loisel's demand of having a suitable constume was fulfilled and her dress was almost ready.
But then, she put forward another demand. She was vexed not to have a jewel. She had nothing to adorn herself with. She didn't want to present a poverty-stricken look of herself amidst rich ladies.She ridiculed the idea of wearing natural flowers. She needed some jewels to adorn herself.

Question. How was Matilda's demand of adorning herself with jewels fulfilled?
Answer. Mrs Loisel was adamant on having some jewels to adorn herself for the ball. Her poor husband felt helpless. However, an idea struck him. He told her that she could borrow jewels from her rich friend,Madame Forestier. Madame Forestier easily agreed and placed her jewellery box before Matilda to make her choice. In the end, Matilda chose a superb diamond necklace and Madame Forestier happily gave the necklace to her friend.

Question. How did Mr and Mrs Loisel replace the lost necklace and gave that to Madame Forestier?
Answer. When they had lost all hopes of getting the lost necklace, Mrs and Mr Loisel decided that they must replace the jewel. In a shop, they found a necklace which seemed to them exactly like the one they had lost. They could get it for 36000 francs. Mr Loisel had 18000 francs which his father had left.
They borrowed the rest of the money. The bought the new necklace and returned it to Madame Forestier.

Question. Why didn't Madame Forestier recognise Matilda? How did both the ladies look?
Answer. One day, Matilda was taking a walk in the Champs-Elysees. She suddenly saw a woman walking with a child. It was Madame Forestier. She was still young, pretty and still attractive. But Mrs Loisel looked just the different. Her face was telling her story. She had so much changed that Madame Forestier couldn't recognise her. She could only say, “Oh! my poor Matilda! How you have changed!”

Question. What did Matilda do to return the money to the lenders?
Answer. To pay the debt of eighteen thousand francs, Loisels let go of their decent living. Matilda had to cook, clean, wash, mend, bring water and bargain with the butcher and grocer.

Question. What was the great shock that Mme Forestier gave to Matilda at last?
Answer. The great shock that Mme Forestier gave to Matilda was the necklace which she lent her was not  original. It was not worth over five hundred francs.

Question. What excuse did Loisels put up to explain the delay in returning the necklace?
Answer. Loisels had lost the necklace and needed time to find an identical one. Thus, Loisels wrote a letter to Mme Forestier with an excuse that the clasp of the necklace was broken and they needed time to get it repaired.

Question. Comment on the use of irony in the text. Or How had sacrifice of Mme Loisel been in vain?
Answer. The irony in the story is based on the fact that Mme and M Loisel spend ten years of toil and frugality paying for a necklace which turns out to be a cheap imitation.

Question. What did Matilda and her husband do to discover the necklace?
Answer. They went to the police and to the cab offices, and put the advertisement in the newspapers, offering a reward. But they had not discovered anything

Question. Why did Matilda (Mme Loisel) leave the ball in a hurry? What does it show about her character?
Answer. Since no one noticed her shabby shawl, Matilda (Mme Loisel) left the ball in a hurry. Her character depicts her false pride and vanity in material things.

Question. How did M. Loisel try to make his wife happy?
Answer. M. Loisel had saved four hundred francs to buy a gun to join some hunting parties the next summer.
The gun was to be used when he and his friends went to shoot larks. However, he tried to make his wife happy by offering to give her the saved four hundred francs to buy a suitable costume.

Question. Why did Jeanne, Matilda’s friend not recognise her? 
Answer. Over ten years, Matilda let go of all the little pleasures of her life, worked extremely hard in order to save money so as to repay the loan they had taken to buy the replacement necklace. All the hardships had given her a haggard look and that is why Jeanne could not recognise her.

Question. She had a rich friend, a schoolmate at the convent,who she did not like to visit — she suffered so much when she returned. She wept for whole days from despair and disappointment.
(a) Who is she in the passage? Why did she not like visiting her friend?
(b) Do you think her disappointment is reasonable?
Answer. (a) She is Mrs. Loisel. She did not like going to her friend’s place because she was a rich woman who had the things that Mrs. Loisel craved for.
(b) No. She lives a comfortable life with a loving husband. Yet, it was her hankering for finer and more expensive things in life that made her miserable and ungrateful.

Question. What did Matilda’s husband bring home one evening? Why was he so elated?
Answer. One evening, Matilda’s husband brought home an invitation for both of them to attend a party at a minister’s house. He was elated because he was one of the few clerks to get an invitation and also because he thought Matilda would be thrilled.

Long Answer questions :

Question. “Oh! My poor Matilda! Mine was false.” Confession saves you from a lot of trouble and the sense of guilt. Justify the statement.
Answer. Matilda’s friend Mme Forester meets her after a long time, nearly a gap of ten years. Perhaps it was destined to. She does not recognize Matilda — old, hard and crude with dishevelled hair and skirts awry. She is astonished to see Matilda in this pathetic condition. Matilda tells her the reason for this — the loss of the original necklace and the misery that followed after replacing the necklace. Mme Forester could only sympathies with Matilda, for the necklace she had lent to Matilda was not of original diamonds. She could have told this clearly to Matilda while giving it to her. Perhaps Mme forester thought she should not dampen Matilda’s spirits by revealing the truth. But what the loss of it. Brought to Matilda was irreversible. Matilda on her part should have revealed the loss of the necklace to her friend. If it had been of real diamonds, then she could have asked for some time to replace it. Matilda could have thus taken her friend into confidence, but the silent suffering had really taken its toll on her life. If Matilda had only taken courage and been honest to her friend, she would still have been living comfortably, thus justifying the statement given above. Her own senseless attitude led to her ruin.
 

Question. M. Loisel was a Loving husband. He tried every method of finding the necklace but to no avaiL He didn't blame Matilda for the loss even after that.
Imagine yourself as the writer of the story
"The Necklace and write an imaginary conversation between M. Loisel and Matilda if Loisel g ets angry on he r at he r carelessness for losing the necklace.
Answer. Matilda: (tensed) Where is my necklace? Oh no! I can't find it I have Lost it somewhere.
M. Loiseb (screaming) What do you mean
Matilda? How can you lose such an expensive diamond necklace? Don't you know itrs borrowed and we have to return it?
Matilda: I am sorry. I have no idea when this happened. I was wearing it the entire time of the party. What should we do now?
M. Loisek What a careless behavior! You are so immature and irresponsible. You couldn't even handle a necklace.
Matilda: II am really sorry LotseL Please don't panic I hope it must be somewhere in the party halL
M. LoiseL I am going to check it everywhere.
Start taking care of things a bit Matilda!
 

Question. Compare Matilda's life before and after the fateful dinner party.
Answer. Before the dinner party, Matilda Led a frugal life as they did not have too much money and hence, had no luxuries. However, they did have a maid and other basic facilities. She dreamt of all the extravagances of life and was unhappy as she did not Lead a luxurious Life. But they couLd still manage to live a simple peaceful Life was full of Love and care.
After the dinner party, Matilda Lost the necklace and her husband hod to borrow large amounts of money ta repay the loans they had taken to replace the lost necklace with a new one.
Matilda had to compensate for the Loss by letting go of the maid, doing all chores herself and having no savings to foil back on. She. Led a hard and harsh Life that made her Look much worn out and shabby.
 

Question. Read the following statement.
rtlf you tell the truth it becomes a part of your past If you tell a lie, it becomes a part of your future.
How does Matilda's life change after she tells a Lie about the necklace? Explain in the Light of the statement given above and with the help of examples from the text.
Answer. Matildas life underwent a drastic change after she told a lie about rhe necklace to Mme Frostier. When Matilda lost the necklace, she lied to her friend that the clasp of the necklace was broken accidentally and she had to get it repaired. So, this way she got some time to replace the necklace by buying a new one that looked exactly, like the lost one However, her lie became a part of her future struggles and poverty as she and her husband hod to pay a sum of sixty-thousand francs. The couple had! to change their lodgings, rent room at the attics and cut down on their expenses and domestic help. They were left with no savings at all and had to work hard to live an economic Life. Had she told the truth to Mme Frostier, she would have known that the necldace was a cheap imitation worth five hundred francs. The truth would have saved her future.
 

Question. One of your friends has to attend a class party at his / her school and wants to purchase the most expensive clothes and shows. He/ She feels that this wouLd make him/ her stand out in the crowd.
You receive a call from your friend seeking advice on this matter. Write down that telephonic conversation between your friend and yourself.
You may begin this way:
Friend: Hey. I want an honest opinion from you. Will you please help me?
Friend: So, there's this class party I have to attend. It's a big dieall
Answer. Friend: Hey. I want an honest opinion from
you. Will you please help me?
You: Hey, Sure. Tell me what is it?
Friend:. So. there's this class party I have to attend, it's a big deal! Now I want you to tdl me that what I should buy so that I may stand out in the crowd.
You: Okay. Look_l think that to stand out in the crowd, you need to be yourself. Every person would look the same in similar type of fashion that they would cany in the party. However, if you will adhere to your personality, to who you are and will go in something that suits your personality rather than going with the trend, I am sure you will rock it Friend: Hey thanks. II haven't thought about it You are right I should wear what suits me best I think I have something with me already that would look the best on me Bye
 

Question. Read the following quote.
“We are too involved in materialistic things, and they don't satisfy us. The loving relationships we have, the universe around us> we take these things for granted” —Mitch Albarn Matilda was never satisfied with her life and desired more. The given quote reflects her character. J u stify.
Answer. Matilda was never satisfied with her life and always desired more. She was a very materialistic lady. She just loved all things material and had very Less emotions. The fact that she had such a loving and caring husband with whom she had a good, simple life wasn't sufficient for her. She was greedy and full of lavish desires even when she knew she had no means to fuLfill them. She never accepted her poor reality and was never grateful for all the good things that she had in her life. She was never content or satisfied with what life had to offer her. She took her husband's Love, her blessed life for granted. Her greedy and dissatisfied nature Led both of them to Live a miserable Life full of extreme poverty.
 

Question. Read the extracts given below and compare the characters on their nature of gratitude towa rds life.
(A) her husband who uncovered the tureen with a delighted air, saying, “Oh/ the good potpie/ / know nothing better than that-,"
(B) she would think of elegant dinners, of shining silver; she thought of the exquisite food served rn marvelous dishesi She had neither frocks nor Jewels, nothing. And she loved only those things.
Answer. The characters in the extracts are M. Loisel and Matilda who had a very different approach towards life.
(A) M. Loisel was a happy and self-content man. Although he was just a middleclass clerk in Board of Education, he was satisfied with what Life had offered him.
He was grateful to God for all the ordinary things that he had. He didn't hove any desire or urge to Lead an exquisite Lifestyle.
He accepted his reality well and was not ashamed to be who he was.
(B) Matilda was an unhappy and dissatisfied lady. Though she was born in a poor family, she believed she deserved all the Luxuries and riches of Life. She never accepted her reality and was always disheartened at what life had to offer her. She wasn't grateful to God for anything in Life. Instead, she always complained to have received nothing from her destiny. She had big desires which were full of greed and riches. She felt ashamed of her poor reality.

Question. Loisel wished to keep his wife in good humour. Which values of Matilda impress him?
Answer.Loisel wished to keep his wife in good humour. Mrs Loisel was a beautiful and delicate woman. She was fond of all riches and luxuries. She thought she deserves all these and thought that it is an error of destiny that she is born in a poor family and married to a mere clerk in the office of the Board of Education. Matilda’s beauty and style impressed Lisle. He tried his best to keep her happy. She was fond of parties and balls. That’s an 8 W y when Lisle got an invitation of Ball of minister’s residence. He was happy for his wife. He bought her a new dress for the ball, with the money he had saved to buy a hunting gun. He loved her so much that he bought the new diamond necklace to replace the lost one for thirty-six thousand francs which lost all his savings and compelled him to do extra jobs after office time. He did all this because he loved his beautiful wife very much and wanted to keep her happy.

Question. Draw a pen-portrait (character-sketch) of Matilda (Mrs Loisel) in about 100–200 words.
Answer. Matilda or Mrs Loisel was quite a beautiful young lady. Some error of fortune gave her birth in a family of petty clerks. She was highly ambitious and dreamy. Her dreams were impractical and beyond her meAnswer. She had to suffer a lot for her acts. But suffering and misfortunes only ended in making her a better human being. She struggled hard like an ordinary maid. She started doing all household works herself. She started living within her limits. She helped her very caring and accommodating husband in saving money. It was a joint effort. They were successful in paying off all their debts in ten years.
Matilda was born with a misconception. She thought, very wrongly, that she was born to enjoy all delicacies and luxuries of the world. She dreamt of a grand house, costly dishes, trendy dresses and glittering jewels.
Matilda was not rich. But she didn't want to present a poverty-stricken image of her amidst rich ladies. She was a self-respecting woman. She refused to go to the ball without a suitable dress and jewels.
One blunder of Matilda led to her ruin and sufferings. She lacked humility. She must have gone and confessed before Madame Forestier that she had lost her necklace. She should have avoided unnecessary suffering to herself and to her husband. Much was done about nothing. Had she done
so, she could have maintained her beauty and youth as Madame Forestier did.

Question. Mr Loisel was a caring, accommodating and helpful husband who tried to please his ambitious wife within his limited meAnswer. Comment.
OR
Give a character sketch of Mr Loisel highlighting his accommodating nature.
Answer. Mr Loisel was every inch a gentleman. He was caring, accommodating and helpful. He had a better understanding of people and things than his ambitious wife. He knew his limitations and never tried to go beyond his meAnswer. However, he stood solidly in thick and thin with his wife. He was ready to
make any sacrifice to make her happy.
Mr Loisel was a 'petty' clerk in the Ministry of Education. He realised that he was a husband of a beautiful and young, but ambitious wife. So, he made every effort within his means to make her happy. He didn't believe in showing off like Matilda. He suggested wearing the same dress which Matilda wore when she went to the theatre. He suggested wearing natural flowers instead of jewels. However, when he failed to convince her, he was ready to make necessary sacrifices. He sacrificed 400 francs that he had saved to buy a gun for hunting, to buy a suitable costume for her. Even in bad times, he stood with his wife. He was self-respecting and contributed all the money, 18000 francs left by his father, to buy a substitute necklace. He worked in the evenings putting the books of some merchants in order to pay off his debts. He also did copying work at five sous a page at night. His hard work and savings helped them to pay off all their debts in ten years.

Question. What is the role of Madame Forestier in the story 'The Necklace'?
OR
Draw a character sketch of Madame Forestier in your own words.
Answer. Madame Forestier plays quite an important role in the plot of the story ‘The Necklace’. She was a rich friend of Matilda. She was a schoolmate at the convent. Though quite rich, Madame Forestier never gave an image of an arrogant and snobbish lady. When Matilda told her that she needed jewels to adorn herself for the ball, she at once obliged her. She opened her jewel box and asked her to make her choice. She happily lent her a superb diamond necklace of her choice. If Matilda didn’t want to visit Madame Forestier, it was not her fault. Matilda's inflated ego prevented her from going there. She suffered so much when she returned the necklace. Matilda suffered because she couldn't enjoy all delicacies and luxuries like her rich friend.
Madame Forestier could snub Matilda for returning the necklace rather late. She told her, “You should have returned them to me sooner......’’ But she was a sympathetic lady. She showed her sympathy when she came to know of all miseries that Matilda suffered because of the necklace. Alas! Matilda didn't take Madame Forestier into her confidence about the lost necklace. Madame Forestier was gracious enough to forgive her. After all, the jewels she lent to Matilda were false.

Question. What was the single mistake that ruined the Loisels’ lives and brought them so much sufferings? Could they have avoided such a situation?
OR
How did a false necklace bring unnecessary struggles and sufferings to Loisels? Could a
better understanding have avoided them? Give a reasoned answer.
Answer. It is true that a single mistake can change the course of one's life. This is exactly what happened to Matilda. Wearing a suitable costume and adorning herself with borrowed jewels didn't bring any reversal of fortunes for Loisels. But hiding the fact that she had lost Madame Forestier's necklace and not taking her into confidence was indeed a big blunder. It was the greatest mistake that Matilda had ever made in her life. She unnecessarily brought suffering to them for nothing. They had to pay 36000 francs to buy a replacement of Madame Forestier's necklace. For ten long years, Matilda had to work like an ordinary maid doing all her household work herself. Mr Loisel had to do extra works in the evenings and nights to save money.
Of course, the Loisels could have averted such an unfortunate situation. Madame Forestier was an obliging, helpful and forgiving lady. She was rich but not arrogant. She would have easily forgiven her for losing her necklace. After all, the jewels were false. And much was done and suffered just for nothing!

Question. The course of the Loisel’s life changed due to the necklace. Comment.
Answer. Madame Forestier's necklace changed the life of Loisels. Matilda borrrowed a superb diamond necklace from Madame Forestier as she didn't want to give a poverty-stricken image amidst rich ladies. She lost her necklace at the ball-party. When her search failed, they decided to replace Madame Forestier’s lost necklace by buying a similar diamond necklace for her. The new diamond necklace value was about 40000 francs. Mr Loisel had 18000 francs with him. They borrowed the rest of the money and bought the new necklace and returned it to Madame Forestier.
Loisels had to work very hard and lead a miserable life to pay off the debts. They sent away their maid and rented some room in an attic. Mrs Loisel did all the washing, cooking, rubbing and cleaning herself. Mr Loisel worked in the evenings for some merchants. He also did copying at five sous a page. In this way, they could pay all their debts in ten years. Mrs Loisel had become a crude woman of a poor household in these years.

Question. Why did Matilda’s husband go out into the cold night, minutes after returning from the ball? Was he successful in his purpose?
Answer. On returning from the ball, Matilda noticed that the necklace, which she had borrowed from Madame Forestier, was missing. They searched for the necklace everywhere. Matilda’s husband went out into the cold night searching for the lost necklace. He went on foot over the route, filed police complaint, enquired cab offices and even put an advertisement in newspapers, offering a reward. But then, all his efforts went in vain. He was not able to find the lost necklace.

Question. What did Loisel do to replace the necklace ?
Answer. Loisel had to pay thirty six thousand Francs for the new necklace. To replace the lost necklace, Loisel used eighteen thousand francs which were set aside by Mr. Loisel’s father. The remaining1-amount was borrowed from moneylenders. In order to repay the borrowed money they went without maid and Matilda did all the household chores whereas Mr. Loisel even worked overtime. In this way, they led a miserable life just to collect enough amount to replace the lost necklace.

Question. What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it ?
OR What could have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace?
Answer. Matilda had borrowed a necklace from her friend Madame Forestier to wear in the party. It was a beautiful one and Matilda, a pretty woman, became the centre of attraction at the party. All this happiness was short-lived because on reaching home, she discovered that she had lost it. All her efforts to find it were in vain. She and her husband borrowed huge sums of money to replace the necklace and henceforth faced a miserable life. On the other hand, if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost the necklace and had apologized she might have saved her family from a lot of miseries as the necklace was not even worth five hundred francs in reality.

Question. Why did Matilda change her lifestyle after the ball? OR
What changes came into the life of the Loisel after the incident of borrowing the necklace?
Answer. Matilda had been enjoying thoroughly at the ball and in the pleasure of the moment, she got careless and lost the necklace. All search was in vain and the expensive jewel (or so they thought) had to be replaced. The debt incurred was much beyond their capacity to pay and thus they had to make severe compromises in their lifestyle, foregoing every luxury. Matilda worked laboriously at the household chores while M. Loisel overworked at the office. Thus, they slogged for ten long years to pay up the loan. 

Question. How had Mme Loisel’s sacrifice all been in vain ?
Answer. The pleasure of looking pretty at the ball proved an expensive bargain for Matilda, as she lost the necklace borrowed from Mme Forestier. It took Loisel’s ten long years to pay back the huge sum they borrowed to replace the lost necklace. Years later, when Matilda saw Mme Forestier, she disclosed the truth of the lost necklace. She was dumb-founded to discover that it was not a genuine piece of jewellery and had been worth just five hundred francs. All her sacrifices and comprises had been meaningless.

Question. What is your opinion about M. Loisel as a husband ?
Answer. M. Loisel was a loving husband beyond any doubt. He was aware of his wife’s aspirations and so he thought that the invitation to the ball would please her and expressed no offence when she reacted negatively. Instead, he offered his savings to buy her an outfit, suited for the occasion.Even when Matilda lost the necklace, he cooperated at every step to make up for the loss and made the neccessary compromises in his life without complaining.

Question. The course of the Loisel’s life changed due to the necklace. Comment.
Answer. It is true that the course of the Loisel’s life changed due to the necklace. After the loss of the necklace , the Loisel’s shifted to a cheap house .Mme. Loisel’s started doing all work herself. She want to buy things. She haggled fees the last seen. She wore ordinary clothes her husband worker evenings. He copied at fine seems a page. This life of hard ships went on ten years.

Question. A little confession would have changed the life of Matilda. Should we confess our mistakes courageously? Do you agree about above statement.
Answer. Yes, a small mistake makes our life miserable and dark. People who are open-minded and speak the truth stay much happier. A little mistake made by Matilda changed her life completely. If Matilda had confessed that she had lost Madam Forestier’s necklace, her life would have been different. Confession could have brought peace of mind. Matilda would have at once come to know that necklace is not a real but it is an imitation. Hard work which Matilda put into repay the borrowed necklace could have been saved. We all get a very important message that we should not delay in admitting our mistake.

Question. Our inability to accept our limitations may lead to an unhappy life. Analyze with reference to the story ‘The Necklace’.
Answer. We fail to recognise the situation in which we are placed but rather keep on grumbling. We become frustrated and want our life to be different. We should accept the life as it comes to us and should not keep on cribbing about unhappy circumstances. As we read the story The Necklace’ we find that Matilda is not at all happy with her husband. She had wished her life to be luxurious. It is this frustration of hers which puts her in a fix and spoils rest of her life. She does not work for solution but rather complicates the situation for her.

Question. Mme Forestier proved to be a true friend of the Loisels. Elaborate. 
Answer. Mme Forestier proved to be a true friend of Loisels.
Mme Forestier played a crucial role in the story. She helped Mathilde when Mathilde needed her genuinely. Mathilde was blessed with a beautiful physique but she lacked the lavish lifestyle she yearned for. Therefore, she was discontented with her life. Although Mme Forestier treated her kindly, Mathilde was jealous of Mme Forestier because of her wealth. Once, Mathilde had to attend a fancy party so she borrowed a diamond necklace from Mme Forestier. Forestier was immediately ready to lend Mathilde the necklace. In fact, she displayed the
entire array of her jewels in front of her and asked her to choose from them. She didn’t show any urgency to get back the necklace and when Mathilde returned the necklace, Mme Forestier didn’t even inspect it and instead, honestly revealed that the necklace that she gave to Mathilde was fake. It shows her honest nature. She also felt bad when Mathilde
suffered unnecessarily to pay for a replacement necklace. Thus, she proved to be her genuine friend.

Question. Describe the kind of life that Mrs. Loisel dreamt of.
Answer. Matilda Loisel was quite pretty and charming woman. She was born in a poor family. Yet she had a very dreamy nature. She always kept dreaming of good things in life. She used to feel that she was born for all the luxuries of life. When she sat for dinner she would dream of dainty dinners, in shining silverware. She would dream of beautiful palaces, of
rich ladies, of showy dresses and jewels. She felt that she was made for all the richest things of life. But she was married to a clerk. So, she suffered endlessly from poverty.

Question. What is the twist at the end of the story ‘The Necklace’?
Answer. Matilda and her husband incur big debts in order to buy a replacement necklace for her friend. They cut down on all expenses, she works hard at the household chores, he does extra jobs etc., in order to earn more money. All this was for a necklace which they thought was of real diamonds. However, at the end of the story. Matilda meets her friend who tells
her after ten years that the necklace they had lost was a fake, worth not even one-tenth of the price they thought it had. They worked so hard to repay the loan because they felt they had lost the real necklace. 
It they knew the truth and had worked so hard for their own benefit, it must have tremendously upgraded their standard of living. This was the twist at the end of the tale.

“Yes, I felt it as we came out.”
“But if you had lost it in the street, we should have
heard it fall. It must be in the cab.”
“Yes, it is possible. Did you take the number?”
“No. And you, did you notice what it was?”
“No.”
(a) What are the people in the passage talking about?
(b) Where are they coming from?

Answer. (a) They were talking about a diamond necklace that Mrs. Loisel had borrowed from her friend. Mrs. 
Loisel had lost the necklace.
(b) They are coming back from a party for which Mrs. Loisel had made a lot of preparations.