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neck stretched out； his figure bent forward； open…mouthed； he
watched Emma's look； who was walking up and down undecided amid
these goods。 From time to time； as if to remove some dust； he
filliped with his nail the silk of the scarves spread out at full
length； and they rustled with a little noise； making in the green
twilight the gold spangles of their tissue scintillate like
little stars。
〃How much are they？〃
〃A mere nothing；〃 he replied； 〃a mere nothing。 But there's no
hurry； whenever it's convenient。 We are not Jews。〃
She reflected for a few moments； and ended by again declining
Monsieur Lheureux's offer。 He replied quite unconcernedly
〃Very well。 We shall understand one another by and by。 I have
always got on with ladiesif I didn't with my own！〃
Emma smiled。
〃I wanted to tell you；〃 he went on good…naturedly； after his
joke； 〃that it isn't the money I should trouble about。 Why； I
could give you some； if need be。〃
She made a gesture of surprise。
〃Ah！〃 said he quickly and in a low voice； 〃I shouldn't have to go
far to find you some； rely on that。〃
And he began asking after Pere Tellier； the proprietor of the
〃Cafe Francais；〃 whom Monsieur Bovary was then attending。
〃What's the matter with Pere Tellier？ He coughs so that he shakes
his whole house； and I'm afraid he'll soon want a deal covering
rather than a flannel vest。 He was such a rake as a young man！
Those sort of people； madame； have not the least regularity； he's
burnt up with brandy。 Still it's sad； all the same； to see an
acquaintance go off。〃
And while he fastened up his box he discoursed about the doctor's
patients。
〃It's the weather； no doubt；〃 he said； looking frowningly at the
floor； 〃that causes these illnesses。 I； too； don't feel the
thing。 One of these days I shall even have to consult the doctor
for a pain I have in my back。 Well； good…bye； Madame Bovary。 At
your service； your very humble servant。〃 And he closed the door
gently。
Emma had her dinner served in her bedroom on a tray by the
fireside； she was a long time over it； everything was well with
her。
〃How good I was！〃 she said to herself； thinking of the scarves。
She heard some steps on the stairs。 It was Leon。 She got up and
took from the chest of drawers the first pile of dusters to be
hemmed。 When he came in she seemed very busy。
The conversation languished； Madame Bovary gave it up every few
minutes； whilst he himself seemed quite embarrassed。 Seated on a
low chair near the fire； he turned round in his fingers the ivory
thimble…case。 She stitched on； or from time to time turned down
the hem of the cloth with her nail。 She did not speak； he was
silent； captivated by her silence； as he would have been by her
speech。
〃Poor fellow！〃 she thought。
〃How have I displeased her？〃 he asked himself。
At last； however； Leon said that he should have； one of these
days； to go to Rouen on some office business。
〃Your music subscription is out； am I to renew it？〃
〃No；〃 she replied。
〃Why？〃
〃Because〃
And pursing her lips she slowly drew a long stitch of grey
thread。
This work irritated Leon。 It seemed to roughen the ends of her
fingers。 A gallant phrase came into his head； but he did not risk
it。
〃Then you are giving it up？〃 he went on。
〃What？〃 she asked hurriedly。 〃Music？ Ah！ yes！ Have I not my house
to look after； my husband to attend to； a thousand things； in
fact； many duties that must be considered first？〃
She looked at the clock。 Charles was late。 Then； she affected
anxiety。 Two or three times she even repeated； 〃He is so good！〃
The clerk was fond of Monsieur Bovary。 But this tenderness on his
behalf astonished him unpleasantly； nevertheless he took up on
his praises； which he said everyone was singing； especially the
chemist。
〃Ah！ he is a good fellow；〃 continued Emma。
〃Certainly；〃 replied the clerk。
And he began talking of Madame Homais； whose very untidy
appearance generally made them laugh。
〃What does it matter？〃 interrupted Emma。 〃A good housewife does
not trouble about her appearance。〃
Then she relapsed into silence。
It was the same on the following days； her talks； her manners；
everything changed。 She took interest in the housework； went to
church regularly； and looked after her servant with more
severity。
She took Berthe from nurse。 When visitors called； Felicite
brought her in； and Madame Bovary undressed her to show off her
limbs。 She declared she adored children； this was her
consolation； her joy； her passion； and she accompanied her
caresses with lyrical outburst which would have reminded anyone
but the Yonville people of Sachette in 〃Notre Dame de Paris。〃
When Charles came home he found his slippers put to warm near the
fire。 His waistcoat now never wanted lining； nor his shirt
buttons； and it was quite a pleasure to see in the cupboard the
night…caps arranged in piles of the same height。 She no longer
grumbled as formerly at taking a turn in the garden； what he
proposed was always done； although she did not understand the
wishes to which she submitted without a murmur； and when Leon saw
him by his fireside after dinner； his two hands on his stomach；
his two feet on the fender； his two cheeks red with feeding； his
eyes moist with happiness； the child crawling along the carpet；
and this woman with the slender waist who came behind his
arm…chair to kiss his forehead： 〃What madness！〃 he said to
himself。 〃And how to reach her！〃
And thus she seemed so virtuous and inaccessible to him that he
lost all hope； even the faintest。 But by this renunciation he
placed her on an extraordinary pinnacle。 To him she stood outside
those fleshly attributes from which he had nothing to obtain； and
in his heart she rose ever； and became farther removed from him
after the magnificent manner of an apotheosis that is taking
wing。 It was one of those pure feelings that do not interfere
with life； that are cultivated because they are rare； and whose
loss would afflict more than their passion rejoices。
Emma grew thinner； her cheeks paler； her face longer。 With her
black hair； her large eyes； her aquiline nose； her birdlike walk；
and always silent now； did she not seem to be passing through
life scarcely touching it； and to bear on her brow the vague
impress of some divine destiny？ She was so sad and so calm； at
once so gentle and so reserved； that near her one felt oneself
seized by an icy charm； as we shudder in churches at the perfume
of the flowers mingling with the cold of the marble。 The others
even did not escape from this seduction。 The chemist said
〃She is a woman of great parts； who wouldn't be misplaced in a
sub…prefecture。〃
The housewives admired her economy； the patients her politeness；
the poor her charity。
But she was eaten up with desires； with rage； with hate。 That
dress with the narrow folds hid a distracted fear； of whose
torment those chaste lips said nothing。 She was in love with
Leon； and sought solitude that she might with the more ease
delight in his image。 The sight of his form troubled the
voluptuousness of this mediation。 Emma thrilled at the sound of
his step； then in his presence the emotion subsided； and
afterwards there remained to her only an immense astonishment
that ende