madame bovary-第28章

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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；　the　leather　of　the
saddles　creaked。

Just　as　they　were　entering　the　forest　the　sun　shone　out。

〃God　protects　us！〃　said　Rodolphe。

〃Do　you　think　so？〃　she　said。

〃Forward！　forward！〃　he　continued。

He　〃tchk'd〃　with　his　tongue。　The　two　beasts　set　off　at　a　trot。

Long　ferns　by　the　roadside　caught　in　Emma's　stirrup。

Rodolphe　leant　forward　and　removed　them　as　they　rode　along。　At
other　times；　to　turn　aside　the　branches；　he　passed　close　to　her；
and　Emma　felt　his　knee　brushing　against　her　leg。　The　sky　was　now
blue；　the　leaves　no　longer　stirred。　There　were　spaces　full　of
heather　in　flower；　and　plots　of　violets　alternated　with　the
confused　patches　of　the　trees　that　were　grey；　fawn；　or　golden
coloured；　according　to　the　nature　of　their　leaves。　Often　in　the
thicket　was　heard　the　fluttering　of　wings；　or　else　the　hoarse；
soft　cry　of　the　ravens　flying　off　amidst　the　oaks。

They　dismounted。　Rodolphe　fastened　up　the　horses。　She　walked　on
in　front　on　the　moss　between　the　paths。　But　her　long　habit　got　in
her　way；　although　she　held　it　up　by　the　skirt；　and　Rodolphe；
walking　behind　her；　saw　between　the　black　cloth　and　the　black
shoe　the　fineness　of　her　white　stocking；　that　seemed　to　him　as　if
it　were　a　part　of　her　nakedness。

She　stopped。　〃I　am　tired；〃　she　said。

〃Come；　try　again；〃　he　went　on。　〃Courage！〃

Then　some　hundred　paces　farther　on　she　again　stopped；　and　through
her　veil；　that　fell　sideways　from　her　man's　hat　over　her　hips；
her　face　appeared　in　a　bluish　transparency　as　if　she　were
floating　under　azure　waves。

〃But　where　are　we　going？〃

He　did　not　answer。　She　was　breathing　irregularly。　Rodolphe　looked
round　him　biting　his　moustache。　They　came　to　a　larger　space　where
the　coppice　had　been　cut。　They　sat　down　on　the　trunk　of　a　fallen
tree；　and　Rodolphe　began　speaking　to　her　of　his　love。　He　did　not
begin　by　frightening　her　with　compliments。　He　was　calm；　serious；
melancholy。

Emma　listened　to　him　with　bowed　head；　and　stirred　the　bits　of
wood　on　the　ground　with　the　tip　of　her　foot。　But　at　the　words；
〃Are　not　our　destinies　now　one？〃

〃Oh；　no！　she　replied。　〃You　know　that　well。　It　is　impossible！〃

She　rose　to　go。　He　seized　her　by　the　wrist。　She　stopped。　Then；
having　gazed　at　him　for　a　few　moments　with　an　amorous　and　humid
look；　she　said　hurriedly

〃Ah！　do　not　speak　of　it　again！　Where　are　the　horses？　Let　us　go
back。〃

He　made　a　gesture　of　anger　and　annoyance。　She　repeated：

〃Where　are　the　horses？　Where　are　the　horses？〃

Then　smiling　a　strange　smile；　his　pupil　fixed；　his　teeth　set；　he
advanced　with　outstretched　arms。　She　recoiled　trembling。　She
stammered：

〃Oh；　you　frighten　me！　You　hurt　me！　Let　me　go！〃

〃If　it　must　be；〃　he　went　on；　his　face　changing；　and　he　again
became　respectful；　caressing；　timid。　She　gave　him　her　arm。　They
went　back。　He　said

〃What　was　the　matter　with　you？　Why？　I　do　not　understand。　You　were
mistaken；　no　doubt。　In　my　soul　you　are　as　a　Madonna　on　a
pedestal；　in　a　place　lofty；　secure；　immaculate。　But　I　need　you　to
live！　I　must　have　your　eyes；　your　voice；　your　thought！　Be　my
friend；　my　sister；　my　angel！〃

And　he　put　out　his　arm　round　her　waist。　She　feebly　tried　to
disengage　herself。　He　supported　her　thus　as　they　walked　along。

But　they　heard　the　two　horses　browsing　on　the　leaves。

〃Oh！　one　moment！〃　said　Rodolphe。　〃Do　not　let　us　go！　Stay！〃

He　drew　her　farther　on　to　a　small　pool　where　duckweeds　made　a
greenness　on　the　water。　Faded　water　lilies　lay　motionless　between
the　reeds。　At　the　noise　of　their　steps　in　the　grass；　frogs　jumped
away　to　hide　themselves。

〃I　am　wrong！　I　am　wrong！〃　she　said。　〃I　am　mad　to　listen　to　you！〃

〃Why？　Emma！　Emma！〃

〃Oh；　Rodolphe！〃　said　the　young　woman　slowly；　leaning　on　his
shoulder。

The　cloth　of　her　habit　caught　against　the　velvet　of　his　coat。　She
threw　back　her　white　neck；　swelling　with　a　sigh；　and　faltering；
in　tears；　with　a　long　shudder　and　hiding　her　face；　she　gave
herself　up　to　him

The　shades　of　night　were　falling；　the　horizontal　sun　passing
between　the　branches　dazzled　the　eyes。　Here　and　there　around　her；
in　the　leaves　or　on　the　ground；　trembled　luminous　patches；　as　it
hummingbirds　flying　about　had　scattered　their　feathers。　Silence
was　everywhere；　something　sweet　seemed　to　come　forth　from　the
trees；　she　felt　her　heart；　whose　beating　had　begun　again；　and　the
blood　coursing　through　her　flesh　like　a　stream　of　milk。　Then　far
away；　beyond　the　wood；　on　the　other　hills；　she　heard　a　vague
prolonged　cry；　a　voice　which　lingered；　and　in　silence　she　heard
it　mingling　like　music　with　the　last　pulsations　of　her　throbbing
nerves。　Rodolphe；　a　cigar　between　his　lips；　was　mending　with　his
penknife　one　of　the　two　broken　bridles。

They　returned　to　Yonville　by　the　same　road。　On　the　mud　they　saw
again　the　traces　of　their　horses　side　by　side；　the　same　thickets；
the　same　stones　to　the　grass；　nothing　around　them　seemed　changed；
and　yet　for　her　something　had　happened　more　stupendous　than　if
the　mountains　had　moved　in　their　places。　Rodolphe　now　and　again
bent　forward　and　took　her　hand　to　kiss　it。

She　was　charming　on　horsebackupright；　with　her　slender　waist；
her　knee　bent　on　the　mane　of　her　horse；　her　face　somewhat　flushed
by　the　fresh　air　in　the　red　of　the　evening。

On　entering　Yonville　she　made　her　horse　prance　in　the　road。
People　looked　at　her　from　the　windows。

At　dinner　her　husband　thought　she　looked　well；　but　she　pretended
not　to　hear　him　when　he　inquired　about　her　ride；　and　she　remained
sitting　there　with　her　elbow　at　the　side　of　her　plate　between　the
two　lighted　candles。

〃Emma！〃　he　said。

〃What？〃

〃Well；　I　spent　the　afternoon　at　Monsieur　Alexandre's。　He　has　an
old　cob；　still　very　fine；　only　a　little　brokenkneed；　and　that
could　be　bought；　I　am　sure；　for　a　hundred　crowns。〃　He　added；　〃And
thinking　it　might　please　you；　I　have　bespoken　itbought　it。　Have
I　done　right？　Do　tell　me？〃

She　nodded　her　head　in　assent；　then　a　quarter　of　an　hour　later

〃Are　you　going　out　to…night？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes。　Why？〃

〃Oh；　nothing；　nothing；　my　dear！〃

And　as　soon　as　she　had　got　rid　of　Charles　she　went　and　shut
herself　up　in　her　room。

At　first　she　felt　stunned；　she　saw　the　trees；　the　paths；　the
ditches；　Rodolphe；　and　she　again　felt　the　pressure　of　his　arm；
while　the　leaves　rustled　and　the　reeds　whistled。

But　when　she　saw　herself　in　the　glass　she　wondered　at　her　face。
Never　had　her　eyes　been　so　large；　so　black；　of　so　profound　a
depth。　Something　subtle　about　her　being　transfigured　her。　She
repeated；　〃I　have　a　lover！　a　lover！〃　delighting　at　the　idea　as　if
a　second　puberty　had　come　to　her。　So　at　last　she　was　to　know
those　joys　of　love；　that　fever　of　happiness　of　which　she　had
despairedl　She　was　entering　upon　marvels　where　all　would　be
passion；　ecstasy；　delirium。　An　azure　infinity　encompassed　her；
the　heights　of　sentiment　sparkled　under　her　thought；　and　ordinary
existence　appeared　only　afar　off；　down　below　in　the　shade；
through　the　interspaces　of　these　heights。

Then　she　recalled　the　heroines　of　the　books　that　she　had　read；
and　the　lyric　legion　of　these　adulterous　women　began　to　sing　in
her　memory　with　the　voice　of　sisters　that　charmed　her。　She　became
herself；　as　it　were；　an　actual　part　of　these　imaginings；　and
realised　the　love…dream　of　her　youth　as　she　saw　herself　in　this
type　of　amorous　women　whom　she　had　so　envied。　Besides；　Emma　felt
a　satisfaction　of　revenge。　Had　she　not　suffered　enough？　But　now
she　triumphed；　and　the　love　so　long　pent　up　burst　forth　in　full
joyous　bubblings。　She　tasted　it　without　remorse；　without　anxiety；
without　trouble。

The　day　following　passed　with　a　new　sweetness。　They　made　vows　to
one　another　She　told　him　of　her　sorrows。　Rodolphe　interrupted　her
with　kisses；　and　she　looking　at　him　through　half…closed　eyes；
asked　him　to　call　her　again　by　her　nameto　say　that　he　loved　her
They　were　in　the　forest；　as　yesterday；　in　the　shed　of　some
woodenshoe　maker。　The　walls　were　of　straw；　and　the　roof　so　low
they　had　to　stoop。　They　were　seated　side　by　side　on　a　bed　of　dry
leaves。

》From　that　day　forth　they　wrote　to　one　another　regularly　every
evening。　Emma　placed　her　letter　at　the　end　of　the　garden；　by　the
river；　in　a　fissure　of　the　wall。　Rodolphe　came　to　fetch　it；　and
put　another　there；　that　she　always　found　fault　with　as　too
short。

One　morning；　when　Charles　had　gone　out　before　day　break；　she　was
seized　with　the　fancy　to　see　Rodolphe　at　once。　She　would　go
quickly　to　La　Huchette；　stay　there　an　hour；　and　be　back　again　at
Yonville　while　everyone　was　still　asleep。　This　idea　made　her　pant
with　desire；　and　she　soon　found　herself　in　the　middle　of　the
field；　walking　with　rapid　steps；　without　looking　behind　her。

Day　was　just　breaking。　Emma　from　afar　recognised　her　lover's
house。　Its　two　dove…tailed　weathercocks　stood　out　black　against
the　pale　dawn。

Beyond　the　farmyard　there　was　a　detached　building　that　she
thought　must　be　the　chateau　She　enteredit　was　if　the　doors　at
her　approach　had　opened　wide　of　their　own　accord。　A　large
straight　staircase　led