What's the indirect and direct characterization of Madame Forestier in the story "The Necklace"?

Direct characterization happens when the author openly describes the physical and behavioral traits of a character. We get a precise idea of what how the character looks, sounds or behaves. Indirect characterization happens when the author uses indirect means to reveal a character's traits. We get an idea of what a character thinks and feels by how others speak about them, interact with them and feel about them.

Madame Forestier is not as profusely described in the story through direct characterization; however, we get glimpses of who she is through indirect characterization of her interaction with Mathilde and of her reactions and comments. 

Direct Characterization:

Maupassant adds this passage when he is describing how Mathilde reacts to the wealth of others. Judging by the fact that Mathilde has no other friends in the story, we can suppose that this brief, direct characterization is of Madame Forestier when Maupassant talks about Mathilde's feelings, 

[Mathilde] had a friend, a former schoolmate at the convent, who was rich, and whom she did not like to go to see any more because she felt so sad when she came home.

This is a direct characterization that states that this friend is rich, came from the convent, and is still a friend of Mathilde's. From this description it is clear that the first fact about Forestier is that she is wealthy. 

Indirect Characterization:

Then we find indirect characterizations that tell us more about Madame Forestier through her actions, interactions, reactions and conversation,

Madame Forestier went to a wardrobe with a mirror, took out a large jewel box, brought it back, opened it and said to Madame Loisel:

"Choose, my dear."

From this small information we can tell indirectly that Forestier is both wealthy and generous. She is willing to share her jewels with her friend. Since the box is so big, we can say that so is Madame's Forestier's fortune.

When Mathilde returns the newly purchased necklace meant to replace the one that she lost, Madame Forestier retorted in a "chilly" mood that Mathilde should have brought in the necklace earlier, as Forestier may have needed it. This part of the indirect characterization shows this is a slight expression of disapproval in the larger scheme of her traits.

Madame Forestier, though, does fit the description of the typical semi-standoffish wealthy woman in the way that she comports herself, which is revealed in indirect characterization. For instance, during one of her walks in the park, years after the necklace debacle, Mathilde finds her walking as most women of Forestier's class often did in the Champs Elysee. Jeanne Forestier does not stop walking until Mathilde blurts out the truth about the replaced necklace. The way that Jeanne reacts, shown through indirect characterization, holding her hands and explaining that the necklace was a fake, shows indirectly that there is a degree of compassion that she still feels for Mathilde, stemming from pity or from affection.