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had to be content！ His work done； he did not come back again all
day； for Charles on his return put up his horse himself；
unsaddled him and put on the halter； while the servant…girl
brought a bundle of straw and threw it as best she could into the
manger。
To replace Nastasie （who left Tostes shedding torrents of tears）
Emma took into her service a young girl of fourteen； an orphan
with a sweet face。 She forbade her wearing cotton caps； taught
her to address her in the third person； to bring a glass of water
on a plate； to knock before coming into a room； to iron； starch；
and to dress herwanted to make a lady's…maid of her。 The new
servant obeyed without a murmur； so as not to be sent away； and
as madame usually left the key in the sideboard； Felicite every
evening took a small supply of sugar that she ate alone in her
bed after she had said her prayers。
Sometimes in the afternoon she went to chat with the postilions。
Madame was in her room upstairs。 She wore an open dressing gown
that showed between the shawl facings of her bodice a pleated
chamisette with three gold buttons。 Her belt was a corded girdle
with great tassels； and her small garnet coloured slippers had a
large knot of ribbon that fell over her instep。 She had bought
herself a blotting book； writing case； pen…holder； and envelopes；
although she had no one to write to； she dusted her what…not；
looked at herself in the glass； picked up a book； and then；
dreaming between the lines； let it drop on her knees。 She longed
to travel or to go back to her convent。 She wished at the same
time to die and to live in Paris。
Charles in snow and rain trotted across country。 He ate omelettes
on farmhouse tables； poked his arm into damp beds； received the
tepid spurt of blood…lettings in his face； listened to
death…rattles； examined basins； turned over a good deal of dirty
linen； but every evening he found a blazing fire； his dinner
ready； easy…chairs； and a well…dressed woman； charming with an
odour of freshness； though no one could say whence the perfume
came； or if it were not her skin that made odorous her chemise。
She charmed him by numerous attentions； now it was some new way
of arranging paper sconces for the candles； a flounce that she
altered on her gown； or an extraordinary name for some very
simple dish that the servant had spoilt； but that Charles
swallowed with pleasure to the last mouthful。 At Rouen she saw
some ladies who wore a bunch of charms on the watch…chains； she
bought some charms。 She wanted for her mantelpiece two large blue
glass vases； and some time after an ivory necessaire with a
silver…gilt thimble。 The less Charles understood these
refinements the more they seduced him。 They added something to
the pleasure of the senses and to the comfort of his fireside。 It
was like a golden dust sanding all along the narrow path of his
life。
He was well； looked well； his reputation was firmly established。
The country…folk loved him because he was not proud。 He petted
the children； never went to the public house； and； moreover； his
morals inspired confidence。 He was specially successful with
catarrhs and chest complaints。 Being much afraid of killing his
patients； Charles； in fact only prescribed sedatives； from time
to time and emetic； a footbath； or leeches。 It was not that he
was afraid of surgery； he bled people copiously like horses； and
for the taking out of teeth he had the 〃devil's own wrist。〃
Finally； to keep up with the times； he took in 〃La Ruche
Medicale；〃 a new journal whose prospectus had been sent him。 He
read it a little after dinner； but in about five minutes the
warmth of the room added to the effect of his dinner sent him to
sleep； and he sat there； his chin on his two hands and his hair
spreading like a mane to the foot of the lamp。 Emma looked at him
and shrugged her shoulders。 Why； at least； was not her husband
one of those men of taciturn passions who work at their books all
night； and at last； when about sixty； the age of rheumatism sets
in； wear a string of orders on their ill…fitting black coat？ She
could have wished this name of Bovary； which was hers； had been
illustrious； to see it displayed at the booksellers'； repeated in
the newspapers； known to all France。 But Charles had no ambition。
An Yvetot doctor whom he had lately met in consultation had
somewhat humiliated him at the very bedside of the patient；
before the assembled relatives。 When； in the evening； Charles
told her this anecdote； Emma inveighed loudly against his
colleague。 Charles was much touched。 He kissed her forehead with
a tear in his eyes。 But she was angered with shame； she felt a
wild desire to strike him； she went to open the window in the
passage and breathed in the fresh air to calm herself。
〃What a man！ What a man！〃 she said in a low voice； biting her
lips。
Besides； she was becoming more irritated with him。 As he grew
older his manner grew heavier； at dessert he cut the corks of the
empty bottles； after eating he cleaned his teeth with his tongue；
in taking soup he made a gurgling noise with every spoonful； and；
as he was getting fatter； the puffed…out cheeks seemed to push
the eyes； always small； up to the temples。
Sometimes Emma tucked the red borders of his under…vest unto his
waistcoat； rearranged his cravat； and threw away the dirty gloves
he was going to put on； and this was not； as he fancied； for
himself； it was for herself； by a diffusion of egotism； of
nervous irritation。 Sometimes； too； she told him of what she had
read； such as a passage in a novel； of a new play； or an anecdote
of the 〃upper ten〃 that she had seen in a feuilleton； for； after
all； Charles was something； an ever…open ear； and ever…ready
approbation。 She confided many a thing to her greyhound。 She
would have done so to the logs in the fireplace or to the
pendulum of the clock。
At the bottom of her heart； however； she was waiting for
something to happen。 Like shipwrecked sailors； she turned
despairing eyes upon the solitude of her life； seeking afar off
some white sail in the mists of the horizon。 She did not know
what this chance would be； what wind would bring it her； towards
what shore it would drive her； if it would be a shallop or a
three…decker； laden with anguish or full of bliss to the
portholes。 But each morning； as she awoke； she hoped it would
come that day； she listened to every sound； sprang up with a
start； wondered that it did not come； then at sunset； always more
saddened； she longed for the morrow。
Spring came round。 With the first warm weather； when the pear
trees began to blossom； she suffered from dyspnoea。
》From the beginning of July she counted how many weeks there were
to October； thinking that perhaps the Marquis d'Andervilliers
would give another ball at Vaubyessard。 But all September passed
without letters or visits。
After the ennui of this disappointment her heart once more
remained empty； and then the same series of days recommenced。 So
now they would thus follow one another； always the same；
immovable； and bringing nothing。 Other lives； however flat； had
at least the chance of some event。 One adventure sometimes
brought with it infinite consequences