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madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第13章

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were called to her through their windows; the music master with
his violin case bowed in passing by。 How far all of this! How far
away! She called Djali; took her between her knees; and smoothed
the long delicate head; saying; 〃Come; kiss mistress; you have no
troubles。〃
Then noting the melancholy face of the graceful animal; who
yawned slowly; she softened; and comparing her to herself; spoke
to her aloud as to somebody in trouble whom one is consoling。
Occasionally there came gusts of winds; breezes from the sea
rolling in one sweep over the whole plateau of the Caux country;
which brought even to these fields a salt freshness。 The rushes;
close to the ground; whistled; the branches trembled in a swift
rustling; while their summits; ceaselessly swaying; kept up a
deep murmur。 Emma drew her shawl round her shoulders and rose。
In the avenue a green light dimmed by the leaves lit up the short
moss that crackled softly beneath her feet。 The sun was setting;
the sky showed red between the branches; and the trunks of the
trees; uniform; and planted in a straight line; seemed a brown
colonnade standing out against a background of gold。 A fear took
hold of her; she called Djali; and hurriedly returned to Tostes
by the high road; threw herself into an armchair; and for the
rest of the evening did not speak。
But towards the end of September something extraordinary fell
upon her life; she was invited by the Marquis d'Andervilliers to
Vaubyessard。
Secretary of State under the Restoration; the Marquis; anxious to
re…enter political life; set about preparing for his candidature
to the Chamber of Deputies long beforehand。 In the winter he
distributed a great deal of wood; and in the Conseil General
always enthusiastically demanded new roads for his
arrondissement。 During the dog…days he had suffered from an
abscess; which Charles had cured as if by miracle by giving a
timely little touch with the lancet。 The steward sent to Tostes
to pay for the operation reported in the evening that he had seen
some superb cherries in the doctor's little garden。 Now cherry
trees did not thrive at Vaubyessard; the Marquis asked Bovary for
some slips; made it his business to thank his personally; saw
Emma; thought she had a pretty figure; and that she did not bow
like a peasant; so that he did not think he was going beyond the
bounds of condescension; nor; on the other hand; making a
mistake; in inviting the young couple。
On Wednesday at three o'clock; Monsieur and Madame Bovary; seated
in their dog…cart; set out for Vaubyessard; with a great trunk
strapped on behind and a bonnet…box in front of the apron。
Besides these Charles held a bandbox between his knees。
They arrived at nightfall; just as the lamps in the park were
being lit to show the way for the carriages。

Chapter Eight
The chateau; a modern building in Italian style; with two
projecting wings and three flights of steps; lay at the foot of
an immense green…sward; on which some cows were grazing among
groups of large trees set out at regular intervals; while large
beds of arbutus; rhododendron; syringas; and guelder roses bulged
out their irregular clusters of green along the curve of the
gravel path。 A river flowed under a bridge; through the mist one
could distinguish buildings with thatched roofs scattered over
the field bordered by two gently sloping; well timbered hillocks;
and in the background amid the trees rose in two parallel lines
the coach houses and stables; all that was left of the ruined old
chateau。
Charles's dog…cart pulled up before the middle flight of steps;
servants appeared; the Marquis came forward; and; offering his
arm to the doctor's wife; conducted her to the vestibule。
It was paved with marble slabs; was very lofty; and the sound of
footsteps and that of voices re…echoed through it as in a church。
Opposite rose a straight staircase; and on the left a gallery
overlooking the garden led to the billiard room; through whose
door one could hear the click of the ivory balls。 As she crossed
it to go to the drawing room; Emma saw standing round the table
men with grave faces; their chins resting on high cravats。 They
all wore orders; and smiled silently as they made their strokes。
On the dark wainscoting of the walls large gold frames bore at
the bottom names written in black letters。 She read:
〃Jean…Antoine d'Andervilliers d'Yvervonbille; Count de la
Vaubyessard and Baron de la Fresnay; killed at the battle of
Coutras on the 20th of October; 1857。〃 And on another:
〃Jean…Antoine…Henry…Guy d'Andervilliers de la Vaubyessard;
Admiral of France and Chevalier of the Order of St。 Michael;
wounded at the battle of the Hougue…Saint…Vaast on the 29th of
May; 1692; died at Vaubyessard on the 23rd of January 1693。〃 One
could hardly make out those that followed; for the light of the
lamps lowered over the green cloth threw a dim shadow round the
room。 Burnishing the horizontal pictures; it broke up against
these in delicate lines where there were cracks in the varnish;
and from all these great black squares framed in with gold stood
out here and there some lighter portion of the paintinga pale
brow; two eyes that looked at you; perukes flowing over and
powdering red…coated shoulders; or the buckle of a garter above a
well…rounded calf。
The Marquis opened the drawing room door; one of the ladies (the
Marchioness herself) came to meet Emma。 She made her sit down by
her on an ottoman; and began talking to her as amicably as if she
had known her a long time。 She was a woman of about forty; with
fine shoulders; a hook nose; a drawling voice; and on this
evening she wore over her brown hair a simple guipure fichu that
fell in a point at the back。 A fair young woman sat in a
high…backed chair in a corner; and gentlemen with flowers in
their buttonholes were talking to ladies round the fire。
At seven dinner was served。 The men; who were in the majority;
sat down at the first table in the vestibule; the ladies at the
second in the dining room with the Marquis and Marchioness。
Emma; on entering; felt herself wrapped round by the warm air; a
blending of the perfume of flowers and of the fine linen; of the
fumes of the viands; and the odour of the truffles。 The silver
dish covers reflected the lighted wax candles in the candelabra;
the cut crystal covered with light steam reflected from one to
the other pale rays; bouquets were placed in a row the whole
length of the table; and in the large…bordered plates each
napkin; arranged after the fashion of a bishop's mitre; held
between its two gaping folds a small oval shaped roll。 The red
claws of lobsters hung over the dishes; rich fruit in open
baskets was piled up on moss; there were quails in their plumage;
smoke was rising; and in silk stockings; knee…breeches; white
cravat; and frilled shirt; the steward; grave as a judge;
offering ready carved dishes between the shoulders of the guests;
with a touch of the spoon gave you the piece chosen。 On the large
stove of porcelain inlaid with copper baguettes the statue of a
woman; draped to the chin; gazed motionless on the room full of
life。
Madame Bovary noticed that many ladies had not put the
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