madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第5章

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soon　be　forced　to　sell　twenty…two　acres　of　〃his　property；〃
as　he　owed　a　good　deal　to　the　mason；　to　the　harness…maker；　and　as
the　shaft　of　the　cider…press　wanted　renewing；　〃If　he　asks　for
her；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃I'll　give　her　to　him。〃
At　Michaelmas　Charles　went　to　spend　three　days　at　the　Bertaux。
The　last　had　passed　like　the　others　in　procrastinating　from　hour
to　hour。　Old　Rouault　was　seeing　him　off；　they　were　walking　along
the　road　full　of　ruts；　they　were　about　to　part。　This　was　the
time。　Charles　gave　himself　as　far　as　to　the　corner　of　the　hedge；
and　at　last；　when　past　it
〃Monsieur　Rouault；〃　he　murmured；　〃I　should　like　to　say　something
to　you。〃
They　stopped。　Charles　was　silent。
〃Well；　tell　me　your　story。　Don't　I　know　all　about　it？〃　said　old
Rouault；　laughing　softly。
〃Monsieur　RouaultMonsieur　Rouault；〃　stammered　Charles。
〃I　ask　nothing　better〃；　the　farmer　went　on。　〃Although；　no　doubt；
the　little　one　is　of　my　mind；　still　we　must　ask　her　opinion。　So
you　get　offI'll　go　back　home。　If　it　is　〃yes〃；　you　needn't
return　because　of　all　the　people　about；　and　besides　it　would
upset　her　too　much。　But　so　that　you　mayn't　be　eating　your　heart；
I'll　open　wide　the　outer　shutter　of　the　window　against　the　wall；
you　can　see　it　from　the　back　by　leaning　over　the　hedge。〃
And　he　went　off。
Charles　fastened　his　horse　to　a　tree；　he　ran　into　the　road　and
waited。　Half　an　hour　passed；　then　he　counted　nineteen　minutes　by
his　watch。　Suddenly　a　noise　was　heard　against　the　wall；　the
shutter　had　been　thrown　back；　the　hook　was　still　swinging。
The　next　day　by　nine　o'clock　he　was　at　the　farm。　Emma　blushed　as
he　entered；　and　she　gave　a　little　forced　laugh　to　keep　herself　in
countenance。　Old　Rouault　embraced　his　future　son…in…law。　The
discussion　of　money　matters　was　put　off；　moreover；　there　was
plenty　of　time　before　them；　as　the　marriage　could　not　decently
take　place　till　Charles　was　out　of　mourning；　that　is　to　say；
about　the　spring　of　the　next　year。
The　winter　passed　waiting　for　this。　Mademoiselle　Rouault　was　busy
with　her　trousseau。　Part　of　it　was　ordered　at　Rouen；　and　she　made
herself　chemises　and　nightcaps　after　fashion…plates　that　she
borrowed。　When　Charles　visited　the　farmer；　the　preparations　for
the　wedding　were　talked　over；　they　wondered　in　what　room　they
should　have　dinner；　they　dreamed　of　the　number　of　dishes　that
would　be　wanted；　and　what　should　be　entrees。
Emma　would；　on　the　contrary；　have　preferred　to　have　a　midnight
wedding　with　torches；　but　old　Rouault　could　not　understand　such
an　idea。　So　there　was　a　wedding　at　which　forty…three　persons　were
present；　at　which　they　remained　sixteen　hours　at　table；　began
again　the　next　day；　and　to　some　extent　on　the　days　following。

Chapter　Four
The　guests　arrived　early　in　carriages；　in　one…horse　chaises；
two…wheeled　cars；　old　open　gigs；　waggonettes　with　leather　hoods；
and　the　young　people　from　the　nearer　villages　in　carts；　in　which
they　stood　up　in　rows；　holding　on　to　the　sides　so　as　not　to　fall；
going　at　a　trot　and　well　shaken　up。　Some　came　from　a　distance　of
thirty　miles；　from　Goderville；　from　Normanville；　and　from　Cany。
All　the　relatives　of　both　families　had　been　invited；　quarrels
between　friends　arranged；　acquaintances　long　since　lost　sight　of
written　to。
》From　time　to　time　one　heard　the　crack　of　a　whip　behind　the　hedge；
then　the　gates　opened；　a　chaise　entered。　Galloping　up　to　the　foot
of　the　steps；　it　stopped　short　and　emptied　its　load。　They　got
down　from　all　sides；　rubbing　knees　and　stretching　arms。　The
ladies；　wearing　bonnets；　had　on　dresses　in　the　town　fashion；　gold
watch　chains；　pelerines　with　the　ends　tucked　into　belts；　or
little　coloured　fichus　fastened　down　behind　with　a　pin；　and　that
left　the　back　of　the　neck　bare。　The　lads；　dressed　like　their
papas；　seemed　uncomfortable　in　their　new　clothes　（many　that　day
hand…sewed　their　first　pair　of　boots）；　and　by　their　sides；
speaking　never　a　work；　wearing　the　white　dress　of　their　first
communion　lengthened　for　the　occasion　were　some　big　girls　of
fourteen　or　sixteen；　cousins　or　elder　sisters　no　doubt；　rubicund；
bewildered；　their　hair　greasy　with　rose　pomade；　and　very　much
afraid　of　dirtying　their　gloves。　As　there　were　not　enough
stable…boys　to　unharness　all　the　carriages；　the　gentlemen　turned
up　their　sleeves　and　set　about　it　themselves。　According　to　their
different　social　positions　they　wore　tail…coats；　overcoats；
shooting　jackets；　cutaway…coats；　fine　tail…coats；　redolent　of
family　respectability；　that　only　came　out　of　the　wardrobe　on
state　occasions；　overcoats　with　long　tails　flapping　in　the　wind
and　round　capes　and　pockets　like　sacks；　shooting　jackets　of
coarse　cloth；　generally　worn　with　a　cap　with　a　brass…bound　peak；
very　short　cutaway…coats　with　two　small　buttons　in　the　back；
close　together　like　a　pair　of　eyes；　and　the　tails　of　which　seemed
cut　out　of　one　piece　by　a　carpenter's　hatchet。　Some；　too　（but
these；　you　may　be　sure；　would　sit　at　the　bottom　of　the　table）；
wore　their　best　blousesthat　is　to　say；　with　collars　turned　down
to　the　shoulders；　the　back　gathered　into　small　plaits　and　the
waist　fastened　very　low　down　with　a　worked　belt。
And　the　shirts　stood　out　from　the　chests　like　cuirasses！　Everyone
had　just　had　his　hair　cut；　ears　stood　out　from　the　heads；　they
had　been　close…shaved；　a　few；　even；　who　had　had　to　get　up　before
daybreak；　and　not　been　able　to　see　to　shave；　had　diagonal　gashes
under　their　noses　or　cuts　the　size　of　a　three…franc　piece　along
the　jaws；　which　the　fresh　air　en　route　had　enflamed；　so　that　the
great　white　beaming　faces　were　mottled　here　and　there　with　red
dabs。
The　mairie　was　a　mile　and　a　half　from　the　farm；　and　they　went
thither　on　foot；　returning　in　the　same　way　after　the　ceremony　in
the　church。　The　procession；　first　united　like　one　long　coloured
scarf　that　undulated　across　the　fields；　along　the　narrow　path
winding　amid　the　green　corn；　soon　lengthened　out；　and　broke　up
into　different　groups　that　loitered　to　talk。　The　fiddler　walked
in　front　with　his　violin；　gay　with　ribbons　at　its　pegs。　Then　came
the　married　pair；　the　relations；　the　friends；　all　following
pell…mell；　the　children　stayed　behind　amusing　themselves　plucking
the　bell…flowers　from　oat…ears；　or　playing　amongst　themselves
unseen。　Emma's　dress；　too　long；　trailed　a　little　on　the　ground；
from　time　to　time　she　stopped　to　pull　it　up；　and　then　delicately；
with　her　gloved　hands；　she　picked　off　the　coarse　grass　and　the
thistledowns；　while　Charles；　empty　handed；　waited　till　she　had
finished。　Old　Rouault；　with　a　new　silk　hat　and　the　cuffs　of　his
black　coat　covering　his　hands　up　to　the　nails；　gave　his　arm　to
Madame　Bovary　senior。　As　to　Monsieur　Bovary　senior；　who；　heartily
despising　all　these　folk；　had　come　simply　in　a　frock…coat　of
military　cut　with　one　row　of　buttonshe　was　passing　compliments
of　the　bar　to　a　fair　young　peasant。　She　bowed；　blushed；　and　did
not　know　what　to　say。　The　other　wedding　guests　talked　of　their
business　or　played　tricks　behind　each　other's　backs；　egging　one
another　on　in　advance　to　be　jolly。　Those　who　listened　could
always　catch　the　squeaking　of　the　fiddler；　who　went　on　playing
across　the　fields。　When　he　saw　that　the　rest　were　far　behind　he
stopped　to　take　breath；　slowly　rosined　his　bow；　so　that　the
strings　should　sound　more　shrilly；　then　set　off　again；　by　turns
lowering　and　raising　his　neck；　the　better　to　mark　time　for
himself。　The　noise　of　the　instrument　drove　away　the　little　birds
from　afar。
The　table　was　laid　under　the　cart…shed。　On　it　were　four　sirloins；
six　chicken　fricassees；　stewed　veal；　three　legs　of　mutton；　and　in
the　middle　a　fine　roast　suckling　pig；　flanked　by　four
chitterlings　with　sorrel。　At　the　corners　were　decanters　of
brandy。　Sweet　bottled…cider　frothed　round　the　corks；　and　all　the
glasses　had　been　filled　to　the　brim　with　wine　beforehand。　Large
dishes　of　yellow　cream；　that　trembled　with　the　least　shake　of　the
table；　had　designed　on　their　smooth　surface　the　initials　of　the
newly　wedded　pair　in　nonpareil　arabesques。　A　confectioner　of
Yvetot　had　been　intrusted　with　the　tarts　and　sweets。　As　he　had
only　just　set　up　on　the　place；　he　had　taken　a　lot　of　trouble；　and
at　dessert　he　himself　brought　in　a　set　dish　that　evoked　loud
cries　of　wonderment。　To　begin　with；　at　its　base　there　was　a
square　of　blue　cardboard；　representing　a　temple　with　porticoes；
colonnades；　and　stucco　statuettes　all　round；　and　in　the　niches
constellations　of　gilt　paper　stars；　then　on　the　second　stage　was
a　dungeon　of　Savoy　cake；　surrounded　by　many　fortifications　in
candied　angelica；　almonds；　raisins；　and　quarters　of　oranges；　and
finally；　on　the　upper　platform　a　green　field　with　rocks　set　in
lakes　of　jam；　nutshell　boats；　and　a　small　Cupid　balancing　himself
in　a　chocolate　swing　whose　two　uprights　ended　in　real　roses　for
balls　at　the　top。
Until　night　they　ate。　When　any　of　them　were　too　tired　of　sitting；
they　went　out　for　a　stroll　in　the　yard；　or　for　a　game　with　corks
in　the　granary；　and　then　returned　to　table。　Some　towards　the
finish　went　to　sleep　and　snored。　But　with　the　coffee　everyone
woke　up。　Then　they　began　songs；　showed　off　tricks；　raised　heavy
weights；　performed　feats　with　their　fingers；　then　tried　lifting
carts　on　their　shoulders；　made　broad　jokes；　kissed　the　women。　At
night　when　they　left；　the　horses；　stuffed　up　to　the　nostrils　with
oats；　could　hardly　be　got　into　the　shafts；　they　kicked；　reared；
the　harness　broke；　their　masters　laughed　or　swore；　and　all　night
in　the　light　of　the　moon　along　country　roads　there　were　runaway
carts　at　full　gallop　plunging　into　the　ditches；　jumping　over　yard
after　yard　of　stones；　clambering　up　the　hills；　with　women　leaning
out　from　the　tilt　to　catch　hold　of　the　reins。
Those　who　stayed　at　the　Bertaux　spent　the　night　drinking　in　the
kitchen。　The　children　had　fallen　asleep　under　the　seats。
The　bride　had　begged　her　father　to　be　spared　the　usual　marriage
pleasantries。　However；　a　fishmonger；　one　of　their　cousins　（who
had　even　brought　a　pair　of　soles　for　his　wedding　present）；　began
to　squirt　water　from　his　mouth　through　the　keyhole；　when　old
Rouault　came　up　just　in　time　to　stop　him；　and　explain　to　him　that
the　distinguished　position　of　his　son…in…law　would　not　allow　of
such　liberties。　The　cousin　all　the　same　did　not　give　in　to　these
reasons　readily。　In　his　heart　he　accused　old　Rouault　of　being
proud；　and　he　joined　four　or　five　other　guests　in　a　corner；　who
having；　through　mere　chance；　been　several　times　running　served
with　the　worst　helps　of　meat；　also　were　of　opinion　they　had　been
badly　used；　and　were　whispering　about　their　host；　and　with
covered　hints　hoping　he　would　ruin　himself。
Madame　Bovary；　senior；　had　not　opened　her　mouth　all　day。　She　had
been　consulted　neither　as　to　the　dress　of　her　daughter…in…law　nor
as　to　the　arrangement　of　the　feast；　she　went　to　bed　early。　Her
husband；　instead　of　following　her；　sent　to　Saint…Victor　for　some
cigars；　and　smoked　till　daybreak；　drinking　kirsch…punch；　a
mixture　unknown　to　the　company。　This　added　greatly　to　the
consideration　in　which　he　was　held。
Charles；　who　was　not　of　a　facetious　turn；　did　not　shine　at　the
wedding。　He　answered　feebly　to　the　puns；　doubles　entendres*；
compliments；　and　chaff　that　it　was　felt　a　duty　to　let　off　at　him
as　soon　as　the　soup　appe