madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第17章

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for　you；　as　I　needn't　trouble　you　then。〃
〃Very　well！　very　well！〃　said　Emma。　〃Good　morning；　Madame　Rollet；〃
and　she　went　out；　wiping　her　shoes　at　the　door。
The　good　woman　accompanied　her　to　the　end　of　the　garden；　talking
all　the　time　of　the　trouble　she　had　getting　up　of　nights。
〃I'm　that　worn　out　sometimes　as　I　drop　asleep　on　my　chair。　I'm
sure　you　might　at　least　give　me　just　a　pound　of　ground　coffee；
that'd　last　me　a　month；　and　I'd　take　it　of　a　morning　with　some
milk。〃
After　having　submitted　to　her　thanks；　Madam　Bovary　left。　She　had
gone　a　little　way　down　the　path　when；　at　the　sound　of　wooden
shoes；　she　turned　round。　It　was　the　nurse。
〃What　is　it？〃
Then　the　peasant　woman；　taking　her　aside　behind　an　elm　tree；
began　talking　to　her　of　her　husband；　who　with　his　trade　and　six
francs　a　year　that　the　captain
〃Oh；　be　quick！〃　said　Emma。
〃Well；〃　the　nurse　went　on；　heaving　sighs　between　each　word；　〃I'm
afraid　he'll　be　put　out　seeing　me　have　coffee　along；　you　know
men〃
〃But　you　are　to　have　some；〃　Emma　repeated；　〃I　will　give　you　some。
You　bother　me！〃
〃Oh；　dear！　my　poor；　dear　lady！　you　see　in　consequence　of　his
wounds　he　has　terrible　cramps　in　the　chest。　He　even　says　that
cider　weakens　him。〃
〃Do　make　haste；　Mere　Rollet！〃
〃Well；〃　the　latter　continued；　making　a　curtsey；　〃if　it　weren't
asking　too　much；〃　and　she　curtsied　once　more；　〃if　you　would〃and
her　eyes　begged〃a　jar　of　brandy；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃and　I'd
rub　your　little　one's　feet　with　it；　they're　as　tender　as　one's
tongue。〃
Once　rid　of　the　nurse；　Emma　again　took　Monsieur　Leon's　arm。　She
walked　fast　for　some　time；　then　more　slowly；　and　looking　straight
in　front　of　her；　her　eyes　rested　on　the　shoulder　of　the　young
man；　whose　frock…coat　had　a　black…velvety　collar。　His　brown　hair
fell　over　it；　straight　and　carefully　arranged。　She　noticed　his
nails　which　were　longer　than　one　wore　them　at　Yonville。　It　was
one　of　the　clerk's　chief　occupations　to　trim　them；　and　for　this
purpose　he　kept　a　special　knife　in　his　writing　desk。
They　returned　to　Yonville　by　the　water…side。　In　the　warm　season
the　bank；　wider　than　at　other　times；　showed　to　their　foot　the
garden　walls　whence　a　few　steps　led　to　the　river。　It　flowed
noiselessly；　swift；　and　cold　to　the　eye；　long；　thin　grasses
huddled　together　in　it　as　the　current　drove　them；　and　spread
themselves　upon　the　limpid　water　like　streaming　hair；　sometimes
at　the　tip　of　the　reeds　or　on　the　leaf　of　a　water…lily　an　insect
with　fine　legs　crawled　or　rested。　The　sun　pierced　with　a　ray　the
small　blue　bubbles　of　the　waves　that；　breaking；　followed　each
other；　branchless　old　willows　mirrored　their　grey　backs　in　the
water；　beyond；　all　around；　the　meadows　seemed　empty。　It　was　the
dinner…hour　at　the　farms；　and　the　young　woman　and　her　companion
heard　nothing　as　they　walked　but　the　fall　of　their　steps　on　the
earth　of　the　path；　the　words　they　spoke；　and　the　sound　of　Emma's
dress　rustling　round　her。
The　walls　of　the　gardens　with　pieces　of　bottle　on　their　coping
were　hot　as　the　glass　windows　of　a　conservatory。　Wallflowers　had
sprung　up　between　the　bricks；　and　with　the　tip　of　her　open
sunshade　Madame　Bovary；　as　she　passed；　made　some　of　their　faded
flowers　crumble　into　a　yellow　dust；　or　a　spray　of　overhanging
honeysuckle　and　clematis　caught　in　its　fringe　and　dangled　for　a
moment　over　the　silk。
They　were　talking　of　a　troupe　of　Spanish　dancers　who　were
expected　shortly　at　the　Rouen　theatre。
〃Are　you　going？〃　she　asked。
〃If　I　can；〃　he　answered。
Had　they　nothing　else　to　say　to　one　another？　Yet　their　eyes　were
full　of　more　serious　speech；　and　while　they　forced　themselves　to
find　trivial　phrases；　they　felt　the　same　languor　stealing　over
them　both。　It　was　the　whisper　of　the　soul；　deep；　continuous；
dominating　that　of　their　voices。　Surprised　with　wonder　at　this
strange　sweetness；　they　did　not　think　of　speaking　of　the
sensation　or　of　seeking　its　cause。　Coming　joys；　like　tropical
shores；　throw　over　the　immensity　before　them　their　inborn
softness；　an　odorous　wind；　and　we　are　lulled　by　this　intoxication
without　a　thought　of　the　horizon　that　we　do　not　even　know。
In　one　place　the　ground　had　been　trodden　down　by　the　cattle；　they
had　to　step　on　large　green　stones　put　here　and　there　in　the　mud。
She　often　stopped　a　moment　to　look　where　to　place　her　foot；　and
tottering　on　a　stone　that　shook；　her　arms　outspread；　her　form
bent　forward　with　a　look　of　indecision；　she　would　laugh；　afraid
of　falling　into　the　puddles　of　water。
When　they　arrived　in　front　of　her　garden；　Madame　Bovary　opened
the　little　gate；　ran　up　the　steps　and　disappeared。
Leon　returned　to　his　office。　His　chief　was　away；　he　just　glanced
at　the　briefs；　then　cut　himself　a　pen；　and　at　last　took　up　his
hat　and　went　out。
He　went　to　La　Pature　at　the　top　of　the　Argueil　hills　at　the
beginning　of　the　forest；　he　threw　himself　upon　the　ground　under
the　pines　and　watched　the　sky　through　his　fingers。
〃How　bored　I　am！〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃how　bored　I　am！〃
He　thought　he　was　to　be　pitied　for　living　in　this　village；　with
Homais　for　a　friend　and　Monsieru　Guillaumin　for　master。　The
latter；　entirely　absorbed　by　his　business；　wearing　gold…rimmed
spectacles　and　red　whiskers　over　a　white　cravat；　understood
nothing　of　mental　refinements；　although　he　affected　a　stiff
English　manner；　which　in　the　beginning　had　impressed　the　clerk。
As　to　the　chemist's　spouse；　she　was　the　best　wife　in　Normandy；
gentle　as　a　sheep；　loving　her　children；　her　father；　her　mother；
her　cousins；　weeping　for　other's　woes；　letting　everything　go　in
her　household；　and　detesting　corsets；　but　so　slow　of　movement；
such　a　bore　to　listen　to；　so　common　in　appearance；　and　of　such
restricted　conversation；　that　although　she　was　thirty；　he　only
twenty；　although　they　slept　in　rooms　next　each　other　and　he　spoke
to　her　daily；　he　never　thought　that　she　might　be　a　woman　for
another；　or　that　she　possessed　anything　else　of　her　sex　than　the
gown。
And　what　else　was　there？　Binet；　a　few　shopkeepers；　two　or　three
publicans；　the　cure；　and　finally；　Monsieur　Tuvache；　the　mayor；
with　his　two　sons；　rich；　crabbed；　obtuse　persons；　who　farmed
their　own　lands　and　had　feasts　among　themselves；　bigoted　to　boot；
and　quite　unbearable　companions。
But　from　the　general　background　of　all　these　human　faces　Emma's
stood　out　isolated　and　yet　farthest　off；　for　between　her　and　him
he　seemed　to　see　a　vague　abyss。
In　the　beginning　he　had　called　on　her　several　times　along　with
the　druggist。　Charles　had　not　appeared　particularly　anxious　to
see　him　again；　and　Leon　did　not　know　what　to　do　between　his　fear
of　being　indiscreet　and　the　desire　for　an　intimacy　that　seemed
almost　impossible。

Chapter　Four
When　the　first　cold　days　set　in　Emma　left　her　bedroom　for　the
sitting…room；　a　long　apartment　with　a　low　ceiling；　in　which　there
was　on　the　mantelpiece　a　large　bunch　of　coral　spread　out　against
the　looking…glass。　Seated　in　her　arm　chair　near　the　window；　she
could　see　the　villagers　pass　along　the　pavement。
Twice　a　day　Leon　went　from　his　office　to　the　Lion　d'Or。　Emma
could　hear　him　coming　from　afar；　she　leant　forward　listening；　and
the　young　man　glided　past　the　curtain；　always　dressed　in　the　same
way；　and　without　turning　his　head。　But　in　the　twilight；　when；　her
chin　resting　on　her　left　hand；　she　let　the　embroidery　she　had
begun　fall　on　her　knees；　she　often　shuddered　at　the　apparition　of
this　shadow　suddenly　gliding　past。　She　would　get　up　and　order　the
table　to　be　laid。
Monsieur　Homais　called　at　dinner…time。　Skull…cap　in　hand；　he　came
in　on　tiptoe；　in　order　to　disturb　no　one；　always　repeating　the
same　phrase；　〃Good　evening；　everybody。〃　Then；　when　he　had　taken
his　seat　at　the　table　between　the　pair；　he　asked　the　doctor　about
his　patients；　and　the　latter　consulted　his　as　to　the　probability
of　their　payment。　Next　they　talked　of　〃what　was　in　the　paper。〃
Homais　by　this　hour　knew　it　almost　by　heart；　and　he　repeated　it
from　end　to　end；　with　the　reflections　of　the　penny…a…liners；　and
all　the　stories　of　individual　catastrophes　that　had　occurred　in
France　or　abroad。　But　the　subject　becoming　exhausted；　he　was　not
slow　in　throwing　out　some　remarks　on　the　dishes　before　him。
Sometimes　even；　half…rising；　he　delicately　pointed　out　to　madame
the　tenderest　morsel；　or　turning　to　the　servant；　gave　her　some
advice　on　the　manipulation　of　stews　and　the　hygiene　of　seasoning。
He　talked　aroma；　osmazome；　juices；　and　gelatine　in　a　bewildering
manner。　Moreover；　Homais；　with　his　head　fuller　of　recipes　than
his　shop　of　jars；　excelled　in　making　all　kinds　of　preserves；
vinegars；　and　sweet　liqueurs；　he　knew　also　all　the　latest
inventions　in　economic　stoves；　together　with　the　art　of
preserving　cheese　and　of　curing　sick　wines。
At　eight　o'clock　Justin　came　to　fetch　him　to　shut　up　the　shop。
Then　Monsieur　Homais　gave　him　a　sly　look；　especially　if　Felicite
was　there；　for　he　half　noticed　that　his　apprentice　was　fond　of
the　doctor's　house。
〃The　young　dog；〃　he　said；　〃is　beginning　to　have　ideas；　and　the
devil　take　me　if　I　don't　believe　he's　in　love　with　your　servant！〃
But　a　more　serious　fault　with　which　he　reproached　Justin　was　his
constantly　listening　to　conversation。　On　Sunday；　for　example；　one
could　not　get　him　out　of　the　drawing…room；　whither　Madame　Homais
had　called　him　to　fetch　the　children；　who　were　falling　asleep　in
the　arm…chairs；　and　dragging　down　with　their　backs　calico
chair…covers　that　were　too　large。
Not　many　people　came　to　these　soirees　at　the　chemist's；　his
scandal…mongering　and　political　opinions　having　successfully
alienated　various　respectable　persons　from　him。　The　clerk　never
failed　to　be　there。　As　soon　as　he　heard　the　bell　he　ran　to　meet
Madame　Bovary；　took　her　shawl；　and　put　away　under　the
shop…counter　the　thick　list　shoes　that　she　wore　over　her　boots
when　there　was　snow。
First　they　played　some　hands　at　trente…et…un；　next　Monsieur
Homais　played　ecarte　with　Emma；　Leon　behind　her　gave　her　advice。
Standing　up　with　his　hands　on　the　back　of　her　chair　he　saw　the
teeth　of　her　comb　that　bit　into　her　chignon。　With　every　movement
that　she　made　to　throw　her　cards　the　right　side　of　her　dress　was
drawn　up。　From　her　turned…up　hair　a　dark　colour　fell　over　her
back；　and　growing　gradually　paler；　lost　itself　little　by　little
in　the　shade。　Then　her　dress　fell　on　both　sides　of　her　chair；
puffing　out　full　of　folds；　and　reached　the　ground。　When　Leon
occasionally　felt　the　sole　of　his　boot　resting　on　it；　he　drew
back　as　if　he　had　trodden　upon　some　one。
When　the　game　of　cards　was　over；　the　druggist　and　the　Doctor
played　dominoes；　and　Emma；　changing　her　place；　leant　her　elbow　on
the　table；　turning　over　the　leaves　of　L'Illustration。〃　She　had
brought　her　ladies'　journal　with　her。　Leon　sat　down　near　her；
they　looked　at　the　engravings　together；　and　waited　for　one
another　at　the　bottom　of　the　pages。　She　often　begged　him　to　read
her　the　verses；　Leon　declaimed　them　in　a　languid　voice；　to　which
he　carefully　gave　a　dying　fall　in　the　love　passages。　But　the
noise　of　the　dominoes　annoyed　him。　Monsieur　Homais　was　strong　at
the　game；　he　could　beat　Charles　and　give　him　a　double…six。　Then
the　three　hundred　finished；　they　both　stretched　themselves　out　in
front　of　the　fire；　and　were　soon　asleep。　The　fire　was　dying　out
in　the　cinders；　the　teapot　was　empty