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answered him
〃What does it matter to me since I'm not in her set？〃
He tortured himself to find out how he could make his declaration
to her； and always halting between the fear of displeasing her
and the shame of being such a coward； he wept with discouragement
and desire。 Then he took energetic resolutions； wrote letters
that he tore up； put it off to times that he again deferred。
Often he set out with the determination to dare all； but this
resolution soon deserted him in Emma's presence； and when
Charles； dropping in； invited him to jump into his chaise to go
with him to see some patient in the neighbourhood； he at once
accepted； bowed to madame； and went out。 Her husband； was he not
something belonging to her？ As to Emma； she did not ask herself
whether she loved。 Love； she thought； must come suddenly； with
great outbursts and lightnings a hurricane of the skies； which
falls upon life； revolutionises it； roots up the will like a
leaf； and sweeps the whole heart into the abyss。 She did not know
that on the terrace of houses it makes lakes when the pipes are
choked； and she would thus have remained in her security when she
suddenly discovered a rent in the wall of it。
Chapter Five
It was a Sunday in February； an afternoon when the snow was
falling。
They had all； Monsieur and Madame Bovary； Homais； and Monsieur
Leon； gone to see a yarn…mill that was being built in the valley
a mile and a half from Yonville。 The druggist had taken Napoleon
and Athalie to give them some exercise； and Justin accompanied
them； carrying the umbrellas on his shoulder。
Nothing； however； could be less curious than this curiosity。 A
great piece of waste ground； on which pell…mell； amid a mass of
sand and stones； were a few break…wheels； already rusty；
surrounded by a quadrangular building pierced by a number of
little windows。 The building was unfinished； the sky could be
seen through the joists of the roofing。 Attached to the
stop…plank of the gable a bunch of straw mixed with corn…ears
fluttered its tricoloured ribbons in the wind。
Homais was talking。 He explained to the company the future
importance of this establishment； computed the strength of the
floorings； the thickness of the walls； and regretted extremely
not having a yard…stick such as Monsieur Binet possessed for his
own special use。
Emma； who had taken his arm； bent lightly against his shoulder；
and she looked at the sun's disc shedding afar through the mist
his pale splendour。 She turned。 Charles was there。 His cap was
drawn down over his eyebrows； and his two thick lips were
trembling； which added a look of stupidity to his face； his very
back； his calm back； was irritating to behold； and she saw
written upon his coat all the platitude of the bearer。
While she was considering him thus； tasting in her irritation a
sort of depraved pleasure； Leon made a step forward。 The cold
that made him pale seemed to add a more gentle languor to his
face； between his cravat and his neck the somewhat loose collar
of his shirt showed the skin； the lobe of his ear looked out from
beneath a lock of hair； and his large blue eyes； raised to the
clouds； seemed to Emma more limpid and more beautiful than those
mountain…lakes where the heavens are mirrored。
〃Wretched boy！〃 suddenly cried the chemist。
And he ran to his son； who had just precipitated himself into a
heap of lime in order to whiten his boots。 At the reproaches with
which he was being overwhelmed Napoleon began to roar； while
Justin dried his shoes with a wisp of straw。 But a knife was
wanted； Charles offered his。
〃Ah！〃 she said to herself； 〃he carried a knife in his pocket like
a peasant。〃
The hoar…frost was falling； and they turned back to Yonville。
In the evening Madame Bovary did not go to her neighbour's； and
when Charles had left and she felt herself alone； the comparison
re…began with the clearness of a sensation almost actual； and
with that lengthening of perspective which memory gives to
things。 Looking from her bed at the clean fire that was burning；
she still saw； as she had down there； Leon standing up with one
hand behind his cane； and with the other holding Athalie； who was
quietly sucking a piece of ice。 She thought him charming； she
could not tear herself away from him； she recalled his other
attitudes on other days； the words he had spoken； the sound of
his voice； his whole person； and she repeated； pouting out her
lips as if for a kiss
〃Yes； charming！ charming！ Is he not in love？〃 she asked herself；
〃but with whom？ With me？〃
All the proofs arose before her at once； her heart leapt。 The
flame of the fire threw a joyous light upon the ceiling； she
turned on her back； stretching out her arms。
Then began the eternal lamentation： 〃Oh； if Heaven had out willed
it！ And why not？ What prevented it？〃
When Charles came home at midnight； she seemed to have just
awakened； and as he made a noise undressing； she complained of a
headache； then asked carelessly what had happened that evening。
〃Monsieur Leon；〃 he said； 〃went to his room early。〃
She could not help smiling； and she fell asleep； her soul filled
with a new delight。
The next day； at dusk； she received a visit from Monsieur
Lherueux； the draper。 He was a man of ability； was this
shopkeeper。 Born a Gascon but bred a Norman； he grafted upon his
southern volubility the cunning of the Cauchois。 His fat； flabby；
beardless face seemed dyed by a decoction of liquorice； and his
white hair made even more vivid the keen brilliance of his small
black eyes。 No one knew what he had been formerly； a pedlar said
some； a banker at Routot according to others。 What was certain
was that he made complex calculations in his head that would have
frightened Binet himself。 Polite to obsequiousness； he always
held himself with his back bent in the position of one who bows
or who invites。
After leaving at the door his hat surrounded with crape； he put
down a green bandbox on the table； and began by complaining to
madame； with many civilities； that he should have remained till
that day without gaining her confidence。 A poor shop like his was
not made to attract a 〃fashionable lady〃； he emphasized the
words； yet she had only to command； and he would undertake to
provide her with anything she might wish； either in haberdashery
or linen； millinery or fancy goods； for he went to town regularly
four times a month。 He was connected with the best houses。 You
could speak of him at the 〃Trois Freres；〃 at the 〃Barbe d'Or；〃 or
at the 〃Grand Sauvage〃； all these gentlemen knew him as well as
the insides of their pockets。 To…day； then he had come to show
madame； in passing； various articles he happened to have； thanks
to the most rare opportunity。 And he pulled out half…a…dozen
embroidered collars from the box。
Madame Bovary examined them。 〃I do not require anything；〃 she
said。
Then Monsieur Lheureux delicately exhibited three Algerian
scarves； several packet of English needles； a pair of straw
slippers； and finally； four eggcups in cocoanut wood； carved in
open work by convicts。 Then； with both hands on the table； his
neck stretched out； his figure bent forward； open…mouthed； he
watched Emma's look； who was