madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第44章

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illness。
But　as　soon　as　she　was　gone；　Emma　greatly　astounded　Bovary　by　her
practical　good　sense。　It　would　be　necessary　to　make　inquiries；　to
look　into　mortgages；　and　see　if　there　were　any　occasion　for　a
sale　by　auction　or　a　liquidation。　She　quoted　technical　terms
casually；　pronounced　the　grand　words　of　order；　the　future；
foresight；　and　constantly　exaggerated　the　difficulties　of
settling　his　father's　affairs　so　much；　that　at　last　one　day　she
showed　him　the　rough　draft　of　a　power　of　attorney　to　manage　and
administer　his　business；　arrange　all　loans；　sign　and　endorse　all
bills；　pay　all　sums；　etc。　She　had　profited　by　Lheureux's　lessons。
Charles　naively　asked　her　where　this　paper　came　from。
〃Monsieur　Guillaumin〃；　and　with　the　utmost　coolness　she　added；　〃I
don't　trust　him　overmuch。　Notaries　have　such　a　bad　reputation。
Perhaps　we　ought　to　consultwe　only　knowno　one。〃
〃Unless　Leon〃　replied　Charles；　who　was　reflecting。　But　it　was
difficult　to　explain　matters　by　letter。　Then　she　offered　to　make
the　journey；　but　he　thanked　her。　She　insisted。　It　was　quite　a
contest　of　mutual　consideration。　At　last　she　cried　with　affected
waywardness
〃No；　I　will　go！〃
〃How　good　you　are！〃　he　said；　kissing　her　forehead。
The　next　morning　she　set　out　in　the　〃Hirondelle〃　to　go　to　Rouen
to　consult　Monsieur　Leon；　and　she　stayed　there　three　days。

Chapter　Three
They　were　three　full；　exquisite　daysa　true　honeymoon。　They　were
at　the　Hotel…de…Boulogne；　on　the　harbour；　and　they　lived　there；
with　drawn　blinds　and　closed　doors；　with　flowers　on　the　floor；
and　iced　syrups　were　brought　them　early　in　the　morning。
Towards　evening　they　took　a　covered　boat　and　went　to　dine　on　one
of　the　islands。　It　was　the　time　when　one　hears　by　the　side　of　the
dockyard　the　caulking…mallets　sounding　against　the　hull　of
vessels。　The　smoke　of　the　tar　rose　up　between　the　trees；　there
were　large　fatty　drops　on　the　water；　undulating　in　the　purple
colour　of　the　sun；　like　floating　plaques　of　Florentine　bronze。
They　rowed　down　in　the　midst　of　moored　boats；　whose　long　oblique
cables　grazed　lightly　against　the　bottom　of　the　boat。　The　din　of
the　town　gradually　grew　distant；　the　rolling　of　carriages；　the
tumult　of　voices；　the　yelping　of　dogs　on　the　decks　of　vessels。
She　took　off　her　bonnet；　and　they　landed　on　their　island。
They　sat　down　in　the　low…ceilinged　room　of　a　tavern；　at　whose
door　hung　black　nets。　They　ate　fried　smelts；　cream　and　cherries。
They　lay　down　upon　the　grass；　they　kissed　behind　the　poplars；　and
they　would　fain；　like　two　Robinsons；　have　lived　for　ever　in　this
little　place；　which　seemed　to　them　in　their　beatitude　the　most
magnificent　on　earth。　It　was　not　the　first　time　that　they　had
seen　trees；　a　blue　sky；　meadows；　that　they　had　heard　the　water
flowing　and　the　wind　blowing　in　the　leaves；　but；　no　doubt；　they
had　never　admired　all　this；　as　if　Nature　had　not　existed　before；
or　had　only　begun　to　be　beautiful　since　the　gratification　of
their　desires。
At　night　they　returned。　The　boat　glided　along　the　shores　of　the
islands。　They　sat　at　the　bottom；　both　hidden　by　the　shade；　in
silence。　The　square　oars　rang　in　the　iron　thwarts；　and；　in　the
stillness；　seemed　to　mark　time；　like　the　beating　of　a　metronome；
while　at　the　stern　the　rudder　that　trailed　behind　never　ceased
its　gentle　splash　against　the　water。
Once　the　moon　rose；　they　did　not　fail　to　make　fine　phrases；
finding　the　orb　melancholy　and　full　of　poetry。　She　even　began　to
sing
〃One　night；　do　you　remember；　we　were　sailing；〃　etc。
Her　musical　but　weak　voice　died　away　along　the　waves；　and　the
winds　carried　off　the　trills　that　Leon　heard　pass　like　the
flapping　of　wings　about　him。
She　was　opposite　him；　leaning　against　the　partition　of　the
shallop；　through　one　of　whose　raised　blinds　the　moon　streamed　in。
Her　black　dress；　whose　drapery　spread　out　like　a　fan；　made　her
seem　more　slender；　taller。　Her　head　was　raised；　her　hands
clasped；　her　eyes　turned　towards　heaven。　At　times　the　shadow　of
the　willows　hid　her　completely；　then　she　reappeared　suddenly；
like　a　vision　in　the　moonlight。
Leon；　on　the　floor　by　her　side；　found　under　his　hand　a　ribbon　of
scarlet　silk。　The　boatman　looked　at　it；　and　at　last　said
〃Perhaps　it　belongs　to　the　party　I　took　out　the　other　day。　A　lot
of　jolly　folk；　gentlemen　and　ladies；　with　cakes；　champagne；
cornetseverything　in　style！　There　was　one　especially；　a　tall
handsome　man　with　small　moustaches；　who　was　that　funny！　And　they
all　kept　saying；　'Now　tell　us　something；　AdolpheDolpe；'　I
think。〃
She　shivered。
〃You　are　in　pain？〃　asked　Leon；　coming　closer　to　her。
〃Oh；　it's　nothing！　No　doubt；　it　is　only　the　night　air。〃
〃And　who　doesn't　want　for　women；　either；〃　softly　added　the
sailor；　thinking　he　was　paying　the　stranger　a　compliment。
Then；　spitting　on　his　hands；　he　took　the　oars　again。
Yet　they　had　to　part。　The　adieux　were　sad。　He　was　to　send　his
letters　to　Mere　Rollet；　and　she　gave　him　such　precise
instructions　about　a　double　envelope　that　he　admired　greatly　her
amorous　astuteness。
〃So　you　can　assure　me　it　is　all　right？〃　she　said　with　her　last
kiss。
〃Yes；　certainly。〃
〃But　why；〃　he　thought　afterwards　as　he　came　back　through　the
streets　alone；　〃is　she　so　very　anxious　to　get　this　power　of
attorney？〃

Chapter　Four
Leon　soon　put　on　an　air　of　superiority　before　his　comrades；
avoided　their　company；　and　completely　neglected　his　work。
He　waited　for　her　letters；　he　re…read　them；　he　wrote　to　her。　He
called　her　to　mind　with　all　the　strength　of　his　desires　and　of
his　memories。　Instead　of　lessening　with　absence；　this　longing　to
see　her　again　grew；　so　that　at　last　on　Saturday　morning　he
escaped　from　his　office。
When；　from　the　summit　of　the　hill；　he　saw　in　the　valley　below　the
church…spire　with　its　tin　flag　swinging　in　the　wind；　he　felt　that
delight　mingled　with　triumphant　vanity　and　egoistic　tenderness
that　millionaires　must　experience　when　they　come　back　to　their
native　village。
He　went　rambling　round　her　house。　A　light　was　burning　in　the
kitchen。　He　watched　for　her　shadow　behind　the　curtains；　but
nothing　appeared。
Mere　Lefrancois；　when　she　saw　him；　uttered　many　exclamations。　She
thought　he　〃had　grown　and　was　thinner；〃　while　Artemise；　on　the
contrary；　thought　him　stouter　and　darker。
He　dined　in　the　little　room　as　of　yore；　but　alone；　without　the
tax…gatherer；　for　Binet；　tired　of　waiting　for　the　〃Hirondelle；〃
had　definitely　put　forward　his　meal　one　hour；　and　now　he　dined
punctually　at　five；　and　yet　he　declared　usually　the　rickety　old
concern　〃was　late。〃
Leon；　however；　made　up　his　mind；　and　knocked　at　the　doctor's
door。　Madame　was　in　her　room；　and　did　not　come　down　for　a　quarter
of　an　hour。　The　doctor　seemed　delighted　to　see　him；　but　he　never
stirred　out　that　evening；　nor　all　the　next　day。
He　saw　her　alone　in　the　evening；　very　late；　behind　the　garden　in
the　lane；　in　the　lane；　as　she　had　the　other　one！　It　was　a　stormy
night；　and　they　talked　under　an　umbrella　by　lightning　flashes。
Their　separation　was　becoming　intolerable。　〃I　would　rather　die！〃
said　Emma。　She　was　writhing　in　his　arms；　weeping。　〃Adieu！　adieu！
When　shall　I　see　you　again？〃
They　came　back　again　to　embrace　once　more；　and　it　was　then　that
she　promised　him　to　find　soon；　by　no　matter　what　means；　a　regular
opportunity　for　seeing　one　another　in　freedom　at　least　once　a
week。　Emma　never　doubted　she　should　be　able　to　do　this。　Besides；
she　was　full　of　hope。　Some　money　was　coming　to　her。
On　the　strength　of　it　she　bought　a　pair　of　yellow　curtains　with
large　stripes　for　her　room；　whose　cheapness　Monsieur　Lheureux　had
commended；　she　dreamed　of　getting　a　carpet；　and　Lheureux；
declaring　that　it　wasn't　〃drinking　the　sea；〃　politely　undertook
to　supply　her　with　one。　She　could　no　longer　do　without　his
services。　Twenty　times　a　day　she　sent　for　him；　and　he　at　once　put
by　his　business　without　a　murmur。　People　could　not　understand
either　why　Mere　Rollet　breakfasted　with　her　every　day；　and　even
paid　her　private　visits。
It　was　about　this　time；　that　is　to　say；　the　beginning　of　winter；
that　she　seemed　seized　with　great　musical　fervour。
One　evening　when　Charles　was　listening　to　her；　she　began　the　same
piece　four　times　over；　each　time　with　much　vexation；　while　he；
not　noticing　any　difference；　cried
〃Bravo！　very　goodl　You　are　wrong　to　stop。　Go　on！〃
〃Oh；　no；　it　is　execrable！　My　fingers　are　quite　rusty。〃
The　next　day　he　begged　her　to　play　him　something　again。
〃Very　well；　to　please　you！〃
And　Charles　confessed　she　had　gone　off　a　little。　She　played　wrong
notes　and　blundered；　then；　stopping　short
〃Ah！　it　is　no　use。　I　ought　to　take　some　lessons；　but〃　She　bit
her　lips　and　added；　〃Twenty　francs　a　lesson；　that's　too　dear！〃
〃Yes；　so　it　israther；〃　said　Charles；　giggling　stupidly。　〃But　it
seems　to　me　that　one　might　be　able　to　do　it　for　less；　for　there
are　artists　of　no　reputation；　and　who　are　often　better　than　the
celebrities。〃
〃Find　them！〃　said　Emma。
The　next　day　when　he　came　home　he　looked　at　her　shyly；　and　at
last　could　no　longer　keep　back　the　words。
〃How　obstinate　you　are　sometimes！　I　went　to　Barfucheres　to…day。
Well；　Madame　Liegard　assured　me　that　her　three　young　ladies　who
are　at　La　Misericorde　have　lessons　at　fifty　sous　apiece；　and　that
from　an　excellent　mistress！〃
She　shrugged　her　shoulders　and　did　not　open　her　piano　again。　But
when　she　passed　by　it　（if　Bovary　were　there）；　she　sighed
〃Ah！　my　poor　piano！〃
And　when　anyone　came　to　see　her；　she　did　not　fail　to　inform　them
she　had　given　up　music；　and　could　not　begin　again　now　for
important　reasons。　Then　people　commiserated　her
〃What　a　pity！　she　had　so　much　talent！〃
They　even　spoke　to　Bovary　about　it。　They　put　him　to　shame；　and
especially　the　chemist。
〃You　are　wrong。　One　should　never　let　any　of　the　faculties　of
nature　lie　fallow。　Besides；　just　think；　my　good　friend；　that　by
inducing　madame　to　study；　you　are　economising　on　the　subsequent
musical　education　of　your　child。　For　my　own　part；　I　think　that
mothers　ought　themselves　to　instruct　their　children。　That　is　an
idea　of　Rousseau's；　still　rather　new　perhaps；　but　that　will　end
by　triumphing；　I　am　certain　of　it；　like　mothers　nursing　their　own
children　and　vaccination。〃
So　Charles　returned　once　more　to　this　question　of　the　piano。　Emma
replied　bitterly　that　it　would　be　better　to　sell　it。　This　poor
piano；　that　had　given　her　vanity　so　much　satisfactionto　see　it
go　was　to　Bovary　like　the　indefinable　suicide　of　a　part　of
herself。
〃If　you　liked；〃　he　said；　〃a　lesson　from　time　to　time；　that
wouldn't　after　all　be　very　ruinous。〃
〃But　lessons；〃　she　replied；　〃are　only　of　use　when　followed　up。〃
And　thus　it　was　she　set　about　obtaining　her　husband's　permission
to　go　to　town　once　a　week　to　see　her　lover。　At　the　end　of　a　month
she　was　even　considered　to　have　made　considerable　progress。

Chapter　Five
She　went　on　Thursdays。　She　got　up　and　dressed　silently；　in　order
not　to　awaken　Charles；　who　would　have　made　remarks　about　her
getting　ready　too　early。　Next　she　walked　up　and　down；　went　to　the
windows；　and　looked　out　at　the　Place。　The　early　dawn　was
broadening　between　the　pillars　of　the　market；　and　the　chemist's
shop；　with　the　shutters　still　up；　showed　in　the　pale　light　of　the
dawn　the　large　letters　of　his　signboard。
When　the　clock　pointed　to　a　quarter　past　seven；　she　went　off　to
the　〃L