madame bovary-第45章

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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　〃Lion　d'Or；〃　whose　door　Artemise　opened　yawning。　The　girl
then　made　up　the　coals　covered　by　the　cinders；　and　Emma　remained
alone　in　the　kitchen。　Now　and　again　she　went　out。　Hivert　was
leisurely　harnessing　his　horses；　listening；　moreover；　to　Mere
Lefrancois；　who；　passing　her　head　and　nightcap　through　a　grating；
was　charging　him　with　commissions　and　giving　him　explanations
that　would　have　confused　anyone　else。　Emma　kept　beating　the　soles
of　her　boots　against　the　pavement　of　the　yard。

At　last；　when　he　had　eaten　his　soup；　put　on　his　cloak；　lighted
his　pipe；　and　grasped　his　whip；　he　calmly　installed　himself　on
his　seat。

The　〃Hirondelle〃　started　at　a　slow　trot；　and　for　about　a　mile
stopped　here　and　there　to　pick　up　passengers　who　waited　for　it；
standing　at　the　border　of　the　road；　in　front　of　their　yard　gates。

Those　who　had　secured　seats　the　evening　before　kept　it　waiting；
some　even　were　still　in　bed　in　their　houses。　Hivert　called；
shouted；　swore；　then　he　got　down　from　his　seat　and　went　and
knocked　loudly　at　the　doors。　The　wind　blew　through　the　cracked
windows。

The　four　seats；　however；　filled　up。　The　carriage　rolled　off；　rows
of　apple…trees　followed　one　upon　another；　and　the　road　between
its　two　long　ditches；　full　of　yellow　water；　rose；　constantly
narrowing　towards　the　horizon。

Emma　knew　it　from　end　to　end；　she　knew　that　after　a　meadow　there
was　a　sign…post；　next　an　elm；　a　barn；　or　the　hut　of　a　lime…kiln
tender。　Sometimes　even；　in　the　hope　of　getting　some　surprise；　she
shut　her　eyes；　but　she　never　lost　the　clear　perception　of　the
distance　to　be　traversed。

At　last　the　brick　houses　began　to　follow　one　another　more
closely；　the　earth　resounded　beneath　the　wheels；　the　〃Hirondelle〃
glided　between　the　gardens；　where　through　an　opening　one　saw
statues；　a　periwinkle　plant；　clipped　yews；　and　a　swing。　Then　on　a
sudden　the　town　appeared。　Sloping　down　like　an　amphitheatre；　and
drowned　in　the　fog；　it　widened　out　beyond　the　bridges　confusedly。
Then　the　open　country　spread　away　with　a　monotonous　movement　till
it　touched　in　the　distance　the　vague　line　of　the　pale　sky。　Seen
thus　from　above；　the　whole　landscape　looked　immovable　as　a
picture；　the　anchored　ships　were　massed　in　one　corner；　the　river
curved　round　the　foot　of　the　green　hills；　and　the　isles；　oblique
in　shape；　lay　on　the　water；　like　large；　motionless；　black　fishes。
The　factory　chimneys　belched　forth　immense　brown　fumes　that　were
blown　away　at　the　top。　One　heard　the　rumbling　of　the　foundries；
together　with　the　clear　chimes　of　the　churches　that　stood　out　in
the　mist。　The　leafless　trees　on　the　boulevards　made　violet
thickets　in　the　midst　of　the　houses；　and　the　roofs；　all　shining
with　the　rain；　threw　back　unequal　reflections；　according　to　the
height　of　the　quarters　in　which　they　were。　Sometimes　a　gust　of
wind　drove　the　clouds　towards　the　Saint　Catherine　hills；　like
aerial　waves　that　broke　silently　against　a　cliff。

A　giddiness　seemed　to　her　to　detach　itself　from　this　mass　of
existence；　and　her　heart　swelled　as　if　the　hundred　and　twenty
thousand　souls　that　palpitated　there　had　all　at　once　sent　into　it
the　vapour　of　the　passions　she　fancied　theirs。　Her　love　grew　in
the　presence　of　this　vastness；　and　expanded　with　tumult　to　the
vague　murmurings　that　rose　towards　her。　She　poured　it　out　upon
the　square；　on　the　walks；　on　the　streets；　and　the　old　Norman　city
outspread　before　her　eyes　as　an　enormous　capital；　as　a　Babylon
into　which　she　was　entering。　She　leant　with　both　hands　against
the　window；　drinking　in　the　breeze；　the　three　horses　galloped；
the　stones　grated　in　the　mud；　the　diligence　rocked；　and　Hivert；
from　afar；　hailed　the　carts　on　the　road；　while　the　bourgeois　who
had　spent　the　night　at　the　Guillaume　woods　came　quietly　down　the
hill　in　their　little　family　carriages。

They　stopped　at　the　barrier；　Emma　undid　her　overshoes；　put　on
other　gloves；　rearranged　her　shawl；　and　some　twenty　paces　farther
she　got　down　from　the　〃Hirondelle。〃

The　town　was　then　awakening。　Shop…boys　in　caps　were　cleaning　up
the　shop…fronts；　and　women　with　baskets　against　their　hips；　at
intervals　uttered　sonorous　cries　at　the　corners　of　streets。　She
walked　with　downcast　eyes；　close　to　the　walls；　and　smiling　with
pleasure　under　her　lowered　black　veil。

For　fear　of　being　seen；　she　did　not　usually　take　the　most　direct
road。　She　plunged　into　dark　alleys；　and；　all　perspiring；　reached
the　bottom　of　the　Rue　Nationale；　near　the　fountain　that　stands
there。　It；　is　the　quarter　for　theatres；　public…houses；　and
whores。　Often　a　cart　would　pass　near　her；　bearing　some　shaking
scenery。　Waiters　in　aprons　were　sprinkling　sand　on　the　flagstones
between　green　shrubs。　It　all　smelt　of　absinthe；　cigars；　and
oysters。

She　turned　down　a　street；　she　recognised　him　by　his　curling　hair
that　escaped　from　beneath　his　hat。

Leon　walked　along　the　pavement。　She　followed　him　to　the　hotel。　He
went　up；　opened　the　door；　enteredWhat　an　embrace！

Then；　after　the　kisses；　the　words　gushed　forth。　They　told　each
other　the　sorrows　of　the　week；　the　presentiments；　the　anxiety　for
the　letters；　but　now　everything　was　forgotten；　they　gazed　into
each　other's　faces　with　voluptuous　laughs；　and　tender　names。

The　bed　was　large；　of　mahogany；　in　the　shape　of　a　boat。　The
curtains　were　in　red　levantine；　that　hung　from　the　ceiling　and
bulged　out　too　much　towards　the　bell…shaped　bedside；　and　nothing
in　the　world　was　so　lovely　as　her　brown　head　and　white　skin
standing　out　against　this　purple　colour；　when；　with　a　movement　of
shame；　she　crossed　her　bare　arms；　hiding　her　face　in　her　hands。

The　warm　room；　with　its　discreet　carpet；　its　gay　ornaments；　and
its　calm　light；　seemed　made　for　the　intimacies　of　passion。　The
curtain…rods；　ending　in　arrows；　their　brass　pegs；　and　the　great
balls　of　the　fire…dogs　shone　suddenly　when　the　sun　came　in。　On
the　chimney　between　the　candelabra　there　were　two　of　those　pink
shells　in　which　one　hears　the　murmur　of　the　sea　if　one　holds　them
to　the　ear。

How　they　loved　that　dear　room；　so　full　of　gaiety；　despite　its
rather　faded　splendour！　They　always　found　the　furniture　in　the
same　place；　and　sometimes　hairpins；　that　she　had　forgotten　the
Thursday　before；　under　the　pedestal　of　the　clock。　They　lunched　by
the　fireside　on　a　little　round　table；　inlaid　with　rosewood。　Emma
carved；　put　bits　on　his　plate　with　all　sorts　of　coquettish　ways；
and　she　laughed　with　a　sonorous　and　libertine　laugh　when　the
froth　of　the　champagne　ran　over　from　the　glass　to　the　rings　on
her　fingers。　They　were　so　completely　lost　in　the　possession　of
each　other　that　they　thought　themselves　in　their　own　house；　and
that　they　would　live　there　till　death；　like　two　spouses　eternally
young。　They　said　〃our　room；〃　〃our　carpet；〃　she　even　said　〃my
slippers；〃　a　gift　of　Leon's；　a　whim　she　had　had。　They　were　pink
satin；　bordered　with　swansdown。　When　she　sat　on　his　knees；　her
leg；　then　too　short；　hung　in　the　air；　and　the　dainty　shoe；　that
had　no　back　to　it；　was　held　only　by　the　toes　to　her　bare　foot。

He　for　the　first　time　enjoyed　the　inexpressible　delicacy　of
feminine　refinements。　He　had　never　met　this　grace　of　language；
this　reserve　of　clothing；　these　poses　of　the　weary　dove。　He
admired　the　exaltation　of　her　soul　and　the　lace　on　her　petticoat。
Besides；　was　she　not　〃a　lady〃　and　a　ma