madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第10章

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Everyone　was　waltzing；　Mademoiselle　d'Andervilliers　herself　and　the　Marquis；
only　the　guests　staying　at　the　castle　were　still　there；　about　a
dozen　persons。
One　of　the　waltzers；　however；　who　was　familiarly　called　Viscount；
and　whose　low　cut　waistcoat　seemed　moulded　to　his　chest；　came　a
second　time　to　ask　Madame　Bovary　to　dance；　assuring　her　that　he
would　guide　her；　and　that　she　would　get　through　it　very　well。
They　began　slowly；　then　went　more　rapidly。　They　turned；　all
around　them　was　turningthe　lamps；　the　furniture；　the
wainscoting；　the　floor；　like　a　disc　on　a　pivot。　On　passing　near
the　doors　the　bottom　of　Emma's　dress　caught　against　his　trousers。
Their　legs　commingled；　he　looked　down　at　her；　she　raised　her　eyes
to　his。　A　torpor　seized　her；　she　stopped。　They　started　again；　and
with　a　more　rapid　movement；　the　Viscount；　dragging　her　along
disappeared　with　her　to　the　end　of　the　gallery；　where　panting；
she　almost　fell；　and　for　a　moment　rested　her　head　upon　his
breast。　And　then；　still　turning；　but　more　slowly；　he　guided　her
back　to　her　seat。　She　leaned　back　against　the　wall　and　covered
her　eyes　with　her　hands。
When　she　opened　them　again；　in　the　middle　of　the　drawing　room
three　waltzers　were　kneeling　before　a　lady　sitting　on　a　stool。
She　chose　the　Viscount；　and　the　violin　struck　up　once　more。
Everyone　looked　at　them。　They　passed　and　re…passed；　she　with
rigid　body；　her　chin　bent　down；　and　he　always　in　the　same　pose；
his　figure　curved；　his　elbow　rounded；　his　chin　thrown　forward。
That　woman　knew　how　to　waltz！　They　kept　up　a　long　time；　and　tired
out　all　the　others。
Then　they　talked　a　few　moments　longer；　and　after　the　goodnights；
or　rather　good　mornings；　the　guests　of　the　chateau　retired　to
bed。
Charles　dragged　himself　up　by　the　balusters。　His　〃knees　were
going　up　into　his　body。〃　He　had　spent　five　consecutive　hours
standing　bolt　upright　at　the　card　tables；　watching　them　play
whist；　without　understanding　anything　about　it；　and　it　was　with　a
deep　sigh　of　relief　that　he　pulled　off　his　boots。
Emma　threw　a　shawl　over　her　shoulders；　opened　the　window；　and
leant　out。
The　night　was　dark；　some　drops　of　rain　were　falling。　She　breathed
in　the　damp　wind　that　refreshed　her　eyelids。　The　music　of　the
ball　was　still　murmuring　in　her　ears。　And　she　tried　to　keep
herself　awake　in　order　to　prolong　the　illusion　that　this
luxurious　life　that　she　would　soon　have　to　give　up。
Day　began　to　break。　She　looked　long　at　the　windows　of　the
chateau；　trying　to　guess　which　were　the　rooms　of　all　those　she
had　noticed　the　evening　before。　She　would　fain　have　known　their
lives；　have　penetrated；　blended　with　them。　But　she　was　shivering
with　cold。　She　undressed；　and　cowered　down　between　the　sheets
against　Charles；　who　was　asleep。
There　were　a　great　many　people　to　luncheon。　The　repast　lasted　ten
minutes；　no　liqueurs　were　served；　which　astonished　the　doctor。
Next；　Mademoiselle　d〃Andervilliers　collected　some　pieces　of　roll
in　a　small　basket　to　take　them　to　the　swans　on　the　ornamental
waters；　and　they　went　to　walk　in　the　hot…houses；　where　strange
plants；　bristling　with　hairs；　rose　in　pyramids　under　hanging
vases；　whence；　as　from　over…filled　nests　of　serpents；　fell　long
green　cords　interlacing。　The　orangery；　which　was　at　the　other
end；　led　by　a　covered　way　to　the　outhouses　of　the　chateau。　The
Marquis；　to　amuse　the　young　woman；　took　her　to　see　the　stables。
Above　the　basket…shaped　racks　porcelain　slabs　bore　the　names　of
the　horses　in　black　letters。　Each　animal　in　its　stall　whisked　its
tail　when　anyone　went　near　and　said　〃Tchk！　tchk！〃　The　boards　of
the　harness　room　shone　like　the　flooring　of　a　drawing　room。　The
carriage　harness　was　piled　up　in　the　middle　against　two　twisted
columns；　and　the　bits；　the　whips；　the　spurs；　the　curbs；　were
ranged　in　a　line　all　along　the　wall。
Charles；　meanwhile；　went　to　ask　a　groom　to　put　his　horse　to。　The
dog…cart　was　brought　to　the　foot　of　the　steps；　and；　all　the
parcels　being　crammed　in；　the　Bovarys　paid　their　respects　to　the
Marquis　and　Marchioness　and　set　out　again　for　Tostes。
Emma　watched　the　turning　wheels　in　silence。　Charles；　on　the
extreme　edge　of　the　seat；　held　the　reins　with　his　two　arms　wide
apart；　and　the　little　horse　ambled　along　in　the　shafts　that　were
too　big　for　him。　The　loose　reins　hanging　over　his　crupper　were
wet　with　foam；　and　the　box　fastened　on　behind　the　chaise　gave
great　regular　bumps　against　it。
They　were　on　the　heights　of　Thibourville　when　suddenly　some
horsemen　with　cigars　between　their　lips　passed　laughing。　Emma
thought　she　recognized　the　Viscount；　turned　back；　and　caught　on
the　horizon　only　the　movement　of　the　heads　rising　or　falling　with
the　unequal　cadence　of　the　trot　or　gallop。
A　mile　farther　on　they　had　to　stop　to　mend　with　some　string　the
traces　that　had　broken。
But　Charles；　giving　a　last　look　to　the　harness；　saw　something　on
the　ground　between　his　horse's　legs；　and　he　picked　up　a
cigar…case　with　a　green　silk　border　and　beblazoned　in　the　centre
like　the　door　of　a　carriage。
〃There　are　even　two　cigars　in　it；〃　said　he；　〃they'll　do　for　this
evening　after　dinner。〃
〃Why；　do　you　smoke？〃　she　asked。
〃Sometimes；　when　I　get　a　chance。〃
He　put　his　find　in　his　pocket　and　whipped　up　the　nag。
When　they　reached　home　the　dinner　was　not　ready。　Madame　lost　her
temper。　Nastasie　answered　rudely。
〃Leave　the　room！〃　said　Emma。　〃You　are　forgetting　yourself。　I　give
you　warning。〃
For　dinner　there　was　onion　soup　and　a　piece　of　veal　with　sorrel。
Charles；　seated　opposite　Emma；　rubbed　his　hands　gleefully。
〃How　good　it　is　to　be　at　home　again！〃
Nastasie　could　be　heard　crying。　He　was　rather　fond　of　the　poor
girl。　She　had　formerly；　during　the　wearisome　time　of　his
widowhood；　kept　him　company　many　an　evening。　She　had　been　his
first　patient；　his　oldest　acquaintance　in　the　place。
〃Have　you　given　her　warning　for　good？〃　he　asked　at　last。
〃Yes。　Who　is　to　prevent　me？〃　she　replied。
Then　they　warmed　themselves　in　the　kitchen　while　their　room　was
being　made　ready。　Charles　began　to　smoke。　He　smoked　with　lips
protruding；　spitting　every　moment；　recoiling　at　every　puff。
〃You'll　make　yourself　ill；〃　she　said　scornfully。
He　put　down　his　cigar　and　ran　to　swallow　a　glass　of　cold　water　at
the　pump。　Emma　seizing　hold　of　the　cigar　case　threw　it　quickly　to
the　back　of　the　cupboard。
The　next　day　was　a　long　one。　She　walked　about　her　little　garden；
up　and　down　the　same　walks；　stopping　before　the　beds；　before　the
espalier；　before　the　plaster　curate；　looking　with　amazement　at
all　these　things　of　once…on…a…time　that　she　knew　so　well。　How　far
off　the　ball　seemed　already！　What　was　it　that　thus　set　so　far
asunder　the　morning　of　the　day　before　yesterday　and　the　evening
of　to…day？　Her　journey　to　Vaubyessard　had　made　a　hole　in　her
life；　like　one　of　those　great　crevices　that　a　storm　will
sometimes　make　in　one　night　in　mountains。　Still　she　was　resigned。
She　devoutly　put　away　in　her　drawers　her　beautiful　dress；　down　to
the　satin　shoes　whose　soles　were　yellowed　with　the　slippery　wax
of　the　dancing　floor。　Her　heart　was　like　these。　In　its　friction
against　wealth　something　had　come　over　it　that　could　not　be
effaced。
The　memory　of　this　ball；　then；　became　an　occupation　for　Emma。
Whenever　the　Wednesday　came　round　she　said　to　herself　as　she
awoke；　〃Ah！　I　was　there　a　weeka　fortnightthree　weeks　ago。〃
And　little　by　little　the　faces　grew　confused　in　her　remembrance。
She　forgot　the　tune　of　the　quadrilles；　she　no　longer　saw　the
liveries　and　appointments　so　distinctly；　some　details　escaped
her；　but　the　regret　remained　with　her。

Chapter　Nine
Often　when　Charles　was　out　she　took　from　the　cupboard；　between
the　folds　of　the　linen　where　she　had　left　it；　the　green　silk
cigar　case。　She　looked　at　it；　opened　it；　and　even　smelt　the　odour
of　the　lininga　mixture　of　verbena　and　tobacco。　Whose　was　it？
The　Viscount's？　Perhaps　it　was　a　present　from　his　mistress。　It
had　been　embroidered　on　some　rosewood　frame；　a　pretty　little
thing；　hidden　from　all　eyes；　that　had　occupied　many　hours；　and
over　which　had　fallen　the　soft　curls　of　the　pensive　worker。　A
breath　of　love　had　passed　over　the　stitches　on　the　canvas；　each
prick　of　the　needle　had　fixed　there　a　hope　or　a　memory；　and　all
those　interwoven　threads　of　silk　were　but　the　continuity　of　the
same　silent　passion。　And　then　one　morning　the　Viscount　had　taken
it　away　with　him。　Of　what　had　they　spoken　when　it　lay　upon　the
wide…mantelled　chimneys　between　flower…vases　and　Pompadour
clocks？　She　was　at　Tostes；　he　was　at　Paris　now；　far　away！　What
was　this　Paris　like？　What　a　vague　name！　She　repeated　it　in　a　low
voice；　for　the　mere　pleasure　of　it；　it　rang　in　her　ears　like　a
great　cathedral　bell；　it　shone　before　her　eyes；　even　on　the
labels　of　her　pomade…pots。
At　night；　when　the　carriers　passed　under　her　windows　in　their
carts　singing　the　〃Marjolaine；〃　she　awoke；　and　listened　to　the
noise　of　the　iron…bound　wheels；　which；　as　they　gained　the　country
road；　was　soon　deadened　by　the　soil。　〃They　will　be　there
to…morrow！〃　she　said　to　herself。
And　she　followed　them　in　thought　up　and　down　the　hills；
traversing　villages；　gliding　along　the　highroads　by　the　light　of
the　stars。　At　the　end　of　some　indefinite　distance　there　was
always　a　confused　spot；　into　which　her　dream　died。
She　bought　a　plan　of　Paris；　and　with　the　tip　of　her　finger　on　the
map　she　walked　about　the　capital。　She　went　up　the　boulevards；
stopping　at　every　turning；　between　the　lines　of　the　streets；　in
front　of　the　white　squares　that　represented　the　houses。　At　last
she　would　close　the　lids　of　her　weary　eyes；　and　see　in　the
darkness　the　gas　jets　flaring　in　the　wind　and　the　steps　of
carriages　lowered　with　much　noise　before　the　peristyles　of
theatres。
She　took　in　〃La　Corbeille；〃　a　lady's　journal；　and　the　〃Sylphe　des
Salons。〃　She　devoured；　without　skipping　a　work；　all　the　accounts
of　first　nights；　races；　and　soirees；　took　interest　in　the　debut
of　a　singer；　in　the　opening　of　a　new　shop。　She　knew　the　latest
fashions；　the　addresses　of　the　best　tailors；　the　days　of　the　Bois
and　the　Opera。　In　Eugene　Sue　she　studied　descriptions　of
furniture；　she　read　Balzac　and　George　Sand；　seeking　in　them
imaginary　satisfaction　for　her　own　desires。　Even　at　table　she　had
her　book　by　her；　and　turned　over　the　pages　while　Charles　ate　and
talked　to　her。　The　memory　of　the　Viscount　always　returned　as　she
read。　Between　him　and　the　imaginary　personages　she　made
comparisons。　But　the　circle　of　which　he　was　the　centre　gradually
widened　round　him；　and　the　aureole　that　he　bore；　fading　from　his
form；　broadened　out　beyond；　lighting　up　her　other　dreams。
Paris；　more　vague　than　the　ocean；　glimmered　before　Emma's　eyes　in
an　atmosphere　of　vermilion。　The　many　lives　that　stirred　amid　this
tumult　were；　however；　divided　into　parts；　classed　as　distinct
pictures。　Emma　perceived　only　two　or　three　that　hid　from　her　all
the　rest；　and　in　themselves　represented　all　humanity。　The　world
of　ambassadors　moved　over　polished　floors　in　drawing　rooms　lined
with　mirrors；　round　oval　tables　covered　with　velvet　and
gold…fringed　cloths。　There　were　dresses　with　trains；　deep
mysteries；　anguish　hidden　beneath　smiles。　Then　came　the　society
of　the　duchesses；　all　were　pale；　all　got　up　at　four　o'clock；　the
women；　poor　angels；　wore　English　point　on　thei