madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第27章

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the　luminous　rays　of　the　rockets　against　the　dark　sky。　Rodolphe
gazed　at　her　in　the　light　of　the　burning　lanterns。
They　went　out　one　by　one。　The　stars　shone　out。　A　few　crops　of
rain　began　to　fall。　She　knotted　her　fichu　round　her　bare　head。
At　this　moment　the　councillor's　carriage　came　out　from　the　inn。
His　coachman；　who　was　drunk；　suddenly　dozed　off；　and　one　could
see　from　the　distance；　above　the　hood；　between　the　two　lanterns；
the　mass　of　his　body；　that　swayed　from　right　to　left　with　the
giving　of　the　traces。
〃Truly；〃　said　the　druggist；　〃one　ought　to　proceed　most　rigorously
against　drunkenness！　I　should　like　to　see　written　up　weekly　at
the　door　of　the　town　hall　on　a　board　ad　hoc*　the　names　of　all
those　who　during　the　week　got　intoxicated　on　alcohol。　Besides；
with　regard　to　statistics；　one　would　thus　have；　as　it　were；
public　records　that　one　could　refer　to　in　case　of　need。　But
excuse　me！〃
*Specifically　for　that。
And　he　once　more　ran　off　to　the　captain。　The　latter　was　going
back　to　see　his　lathe　again。
〃Perhaps　you　would　not　do　ill；〃　Homais　said　to　him；　〃to　send　one
of　your　men；　or　to　go　yourself〃
〃Leave　me　alone！〃　answered　the　tax…collector。　〃It's　all　right！〃
〃Do　not　be　uneasy；〃　said　the　druggist；　when　he　returned　to　his
friends。　〃Monsieur　Binet　has　assured　me　that　all　precautions　have
been　taken。　No　sparks　have　fallen；　the　pumps　are　full。　Let　us　go
to　rest。〃
〃Ma　foi！　I　want　it；〃　said　Madame　Homais；　yawning　at　large。　〃But
never　mind；　we've　had　a　beautiful　day　for　our　fete。〃
Rodolphe　repeated　in　a　low　voice；　and　with　a　tender　look；　〃Oh；
yes！　very　beautiful！〃
And　having　bowed　to　one　another；　they　separated。
Two　days　later；　in　the　〃Final　de　Rouen；〃　there　was　a　long　article
on　the　show。　Homais　had　composed　it　with　verve　the　very　next
morning。
〃Why　these　festoons；　these　flowers；　these　garlands？　Whither
hurries　this　crowd　like　the　waves　of　a　furious　sea　under　the
torrents　of　a　tropical　sun　pouring　its　heat　upon　our　heads？〃
Then　he　spoke　of　the　condition　of　the　peasants。　Certainly　the
Government　was　doing　much；　but　not　enough。　〃Courage！〃　he　cried　to
it；　〃a　thousand　reforms　are　indispensable；　let　us　accomplish
them！〃　Then　touching　on　the　entry　of　the　councillor；　he　did　not
forget　〃the　martial　air　of　our　militia；〃　nor　〃our　most　merry
village　maidens；〃　nor　the　〃bald…headed　old　men　like　patriarchs
who　were　there；　and　of　whom　some；　the　remnants　of　our　phalanxes；
still　felt　their　hearts　beat　at　the　manly　sound　of　the　drums。〃　He
cited　himself　among　the　first　of　the　members　of　the　jury；　and　he
even　called　attention　in　a　note　to　the　fact　that　Monsieur　Homais；
chemist；　had　sent　a　memoir　on　cider　to　the　agricultural　society。
When　he　came　to　the　distribution　of　the　prizes；　he　painted　the
joy　of　the　prize…winners　in　dithyrambic　strophes。　〃The　father
embraced　the　son；　the　brother　the　brother；　the　husband　his
consort。　More　than　one　showed　his　humble　medal　with　pride；　and　no
doubt　when　he　got　home　to　his　good　housewife；　he　hung　it　up
weeping　on　the　modest　walls　of　his　cot。
〃About　six　o'clock　a　banquet　prepared　in　the　meadow　of　Monsieur
Leigeard　brought　together　the　principal　personages　of　the　fete。
The　greatest　cordiality　reigned　here。　Divers　toasts　were
proposed：　Monsieur　Lieuvain；　the　King；　Monsieur　Tuvache；　the
Prefect；　Monsieur　Derozerays；　Agriculture；　Monsieur　Homais；
Industry　and　the　Fine　Arts；　those　twin　sisters；　Monsieur
Leplichey；　Progress。　In　the　evening　some　brilliant　fireworks　on　a
sudden　illumined　the　air。　One　would　have　called　it　a　veritable
kaleidoscope；　a　real　operatic　scene；　and　for　a　moment　our　little
locality　might　have　thought　itself　transported　into　the　midst　of
a　dream　of　the　'Thousand　and　One　Nights。'　〃Let　us　state　that　no
untoward　event　disturbed　this　family　meeting。〃　And　he　added　〃Only
the　absence　of　the　clergy　was　remarked。　No　doubt　the　priests
understand　progress　in　another　fashion。　Just　as　you　please；
messieurs　the　followers　of　Loyola！〃

Chapter　Nine
Six　weeks　passed。　Rodolphe　did　not　come　again。　At　last　one
evening　he　appeared。
The　day　after　the　show　he　had　said　to　himself〃We　mustn't　go
back　too　soon；　that　would　be　a　mistake。〃
And　at　the　end　of　a　week　he　had　gone　off　hunting。　After　the
hunting　he　had　thought　it　was　too　late；　and　then　he　reasoned
thus
〃If　from　the　first　day　she　loved　me；　she　must　from　impatience　to
see　me　again　love　me　more。　Let's　go　on　with　it！〃
And　he　knew　that　his　calculation　had　been　right　when；　on　entering
the　room；　he　saw　Emma　turn　pale。
She　was　alone。　The　day　was　drawing　in。　The　small　muslin　curtain
along　the　windows　deepened　the　twilight；　and　the　gilding　of　the
barometer；　on　which　the　rays　of　the　sun　fell；　shone　in　the
looking…glass　between　the　meshes　of　the　coral。
Rodolphe　remained　standing；　and　Emma　hardly　answered　his　first
conventional　phrases。
〃I；〃　he　said；　〃have　been　busy。　I　have　been　ill。〃
〃Seriously？〃　she　cried。
〃Well；〃　said　Rodolphe；　sitting　down　at　her　side　on　a　footstool；
〃no；　it　was　because　I　did　not　want　to　come　back。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Can　you　not　guess？〃
He　looked　at　her　again；　but　so　hard　that　she　lowered　her　head；
blushing。　He　went　on
〃Emma！〃
〃Sir；〃　she　said；　drawing　back　a　little。
〃Ah！　you　see；〃　replied　he　in　a　melancholy　voice；　〃that　I　was
right　not　to　come　back；　for　this　name；　this　name　that　fills　my
whole　soul；　and　that　escaped　me；　you　forbid　me　to　use！　Madame
Bovary！　why　all　the　world　calls　you　thus！　Besides；　it　is　not　your
name；　it　is　the　name　of　another！〃
He　repeated；　〃of　another！〃　And　he　hid　his　face　in　his　hands。
〃Yes；　I　think　of　you　constantly。　The　memory　of　you　drives　me　to
despair。　Ah！　forgive　me！　I　will　leave　you！　Farewell！　I　will　go
far　away；　so　far　that　you　will　never　hear　of　me　again；　and　yet
to…dayI　know　not　what　force　impelled　me　towards　you。　For　one
does　not　struggle　against　Heaven；　one　cannot　resist　the　smile　of
angels；　one　is　carried　away　by　that　which　is　beautiful；　charming；
adorable。〃
It　was　the　first　time　that　Emma　had　heard　such　words　spoken　to
herself；　and　her　pride；　like　one　who　reposes　bathed　in　warmth；
expanded　softly　and　fully　at　this　glowing　language。
〃But　if　I　did　not　come；〃　he　continued；　〃if　I　could　not　see　you；
at　least　I　have　gazed　long　on　all　that　surrounds　you。　At
night…every　night…I　arose；　I　came　hither；　I　watched　your　house；
its　glimmering　in　the　moon；　the　trees　in　the　garden　swaying
before　your　window；　and　the　little　lamp；　a　gleam　shining　through
the　window…panes　in　the　darkness。　Ah！　you　never　knew　that　there；
so　near　you；　so　far　from　you；　was　a　poor　wretch！〃
She　turned　towards　him　with　a　sob。
〃Oh；　you　are　good！〃　she　said。
〃No；　I　love　you；　that　is　all！　You　do　not　doubt　that！　Tell　meone
wordonly　one　word！〃
And　Rodolphe　imperceptibly　glided　from　the　footstool　to　the
ground；　but　a　sound　of　wooden　shoes　was　heard　in　the　kitchen；　and
he　noticed　the　door　of　the　room　was　not　closed。
〃How　kind　it　would　be　of　you；〃　he　went　on；　rising；　〃if　you　would
humour　a　whim　of　mine。〃　It　was　to　go　over　her　house；　he　wanted　to
know　it；　and　Madame　Bovary　seeing　no　objection　to　this；　they　both
rose；　when　Charles　came　in。
〃Good　morning；　doctor；〃　Rodolphe　said　to　him。
The　doctor；　flattered　at　this　unexpected　title；　launched　out　into
obsequious　phrases。　Of　this　the　other　took　advantage　to　pull
himself　together　a　little。
〃Madame　was　speaking　to　me；〃　he　then　said；　〃about　her　health。〃
Charles　interrupted　him；　he　had　indeed　a　thousand　anxieties；　his
wife's　palpitations　of　the　heart　were　beginning　again。　Then
Rodolphe　asked　if　riding　would　not　be　good。
〃Certainly！　excellent！　just　the　thing！　There's　an　idea！　You　ought
to　follow　it　up。〃
And　as　she　objected　that　she　had　no　horse；　Monsieur　Rodolphe
offered　one。　She　refused　his　offer；　he　did　not　insist。　Then　to
explain　his　visit　he　said　that　his　ploughman；　the　man　of　the
blood…letting；　still　suffered　from　giddiness。
〃I'll　call　around；〃　said　Bovary。
〃No；　no！　I'll　send　him　to　you；　we'll　come；　that　will　be　more
convenient　for　you。〃
〃Ah！　very　good！　I　thank　you。〃
And　as　soon　as　they　were　alone；　〃Why　don't　you　accept　Monsieur
Boulanger's　kind　offer？〃
She　assumed　a　sulky　air；　invented　a　thousand　excuses；　and　finally
declared　that　perhaps　it　would　look　odd。
〃Well；　what　the　deuce　do　I　care　for　that？〃　said　Charles；　making　a
pirouette。　〃Health　before　everything！　You　are　wrong。〃
〃And　how　do　you　think　I　can　ride　when　I　haven't　got　a　habit？〃
〃You　must　order　one；〃　he　answered。
The　riding…habit　decided　her。
When　the　habit　was　ready；　Charles　wrote　to　Monsieur　Boulanger
that　his　wife　was　at　his　command；　and　that　they　counted　on　his
good…nature。
The　next　day　at　noon　Rodolphe　appeared　at　Charles's　door　with　two
saddle…horses。　One　had　pink　rosettes　at　his　ears　and　a　deerskin
side…saddle。
Rodolphe　had　put　on　high　soft　boots；　saying　to　himself　that　no
doubt　she　had　never　seen　anything　like　them。　In　fact；　Emma　was
charmed　with　his　appearance　as　he　stood　on　the　landing　in　his
great　velvet　coat　and　white　corduroy　breeches。　She　was　ready；　she
was　waiting　for　him。
Justin　escaped　from　the　chemist's　to　see　her　start；　and　the
chemist　also　came　out。　He　was　giving　Monsieur　Boulanger　a　little
good　advice。
〃An　accident　happens　so　easily。　Be　careful！　Your　horses　perhaps
are　mettlesome。〃
She　heard　a　noise　above　her；　it　was　Felicite　drumming　on　the
windowpanes　to　amuse　little　Berthe。　The　child　blew　her　a　kiss；
her　mother　answered　with　a　wave　of　her　whip。
〃A　pleasant　ride！〃　cried　Monsieur　Homais。　〃Prudence！　above　all；
prudence！〃　And　he　flourished　his　newspaper　as　he　saw　them
disappear。
As　soon　as　he　felt　the　ground；　Emma's　horse　set　off　at　a　gallop。
Rodolphe　galloped　by　her　side。　Now　and　then　they　exchanged　a
word。　Her　figure　slightly　bent；　her　hand　well　up；　and　her　right
arm　stretched　out；　she　gave　herself　up　to　the　cadence　of　the
movement　that　rocked　her　in　her　saddle。　At　the　bottom　of　the　hill
Rodolphe　gave　his　horse　its　head；　they　started　together　at　a
bound；　then　at　the　top　suddenly　the　horses　stopped；　and　her　large
blue　veil　fell　about　her。
It　was　early　in　October。　There　was　fog　over　the　land。　Hazy　clouds
hovered　on　the　horizon　between　the　outlines　of　the　hills；　others；
rent　asunder；　floated　up　and　disappeared。　Sometimes　through　a
rift　in　the　clouds；　beneath　a　ray　of　sunshine；　gleamed　from　afar
the　roots　of　Yonville；　with　the　gardens　at　the　water's　edge；　the
yards；　the　walls　and　the　church　steeple。　Emma　half　closed　her
eyes　to　pick　out　her　house；　and　never　had　this　poor　village　where
she　lived　appeared　so　small。　From　the　height　on　which　they　were
the　whole　valley　seemed　an　immense　pale　lake　sending　off　its
vapour　into　the　air。　Clumps　of　trees　here　and　there　stood　out
like　black　rocks；　and　the　tall　lines　of　the　poplars　that　rose
above　the　mist　were　like　a　beach　stirred　by　the　wind。
By　the　side；　on　the　turf　between　the　pines；　a　brown　light
shimmered　in　the　warm　atmosphere。　The　earth；　ruddy　like　the
powder　of　tobacco；　deadened　the　noise　of　their　steps；　and　with
the　edge　of　their　shoes　the　horses　as　they　walked　kicked　the
fallen　fir　cones　in　front　of　them。
Rodolphe　and　Emma　thus　went　along　the　skirt　of　the　wood。　She
turned　away　from　time　to　time　to　avoid　his　look；　and　then　she　saw
only　the　pine　trunks　in　lines；　whose　monotonous　succession　made
her　a　little　giddy。　The　horses　were　panting；　t