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himself。
The syllabus that he read on the notice…board stunned him；
lectures on anatomy； lectures on pathology； lectures on
physiology； lectures on pharmacy； lectures on botany and clinical
medicine； and therapeutics； without counting hygiene and materia
medicaall names of whose etymologies he was ignorant； and that
were to him as so many doors to sanctuaries filled with
magnificent darkness。
He understood nothing of it all； it was all very well to listen
he did not follow。 Still he worked； he had bound note…books； he
attended all the courses； never missed a single lecture。 He did
his little daily task like a mill…horse； who goes round and round
with his eyes bandaged； not knowing what work he is doing。
To spare him expense his mother sent him every week by the
carrier a piece of veal baked in the oven； with which he lunched
when he came back from the hospital； while he sat kicking his
feet against the wall。 After this he had to run off to lectures；
to the operation…room； to the hospital； and return to his home at
the other end of the town。 In the evening； after the poor dinner
of his landlord； he went back to his room and set to work again
in his wet clothes； which smoked as he sat in front of the hot
stove。
On the fine summer evenings； at the time when the close streets
are empty； when the servants are playing shuttle…cock at the
doors； he opened his window and leaned out。 The river； that makes
of this quarter of Rouen a wretched little Venice； flowed beneath
him； between the bridges and the railings； yellow； violet； or
blue。 Working men； kneeling on the banks； washed their bare arms
in the water。 On poles projecting from the attics； skeins of
cotton were drying in the air。 Opposite； beyond the roots spread
the pure heaven with the red sun setting。 How pleasant it must be
at home！ How fresh under the beech…tree！ And he expanded his
nostrils to breathe in the sweet odours of the country which did
not reach him。
He grew thin； his figure became taller； his face took a saddened
look that made it nearly interesting。 Naturally； through
indifference； he abandoned all the resolutions he had made。 Once
he missed a lecture； the next day all the lectures； and； enjoying
his idleness； little by little； he gave up work altogether。 He
got into the habit of going to the public…house； and had a
passion for dominoes。 To shut himself up every evening in the
dirty public room； to push about on marble tables the small sheep
bones with black dots； seemed to him a fine proof of his freedom；
which raised him in his own esteem。 It was beginning to see life；
the sweetness of stolen pleasures； and when he entered； he put
his hand on the door…handle with a joy almost sensual。 Then many
things hidden within him came out； he learnt couplets by heart
and sang them to his boon companions； became enthusiastic about
Beranger； learnt how to make punch； and； finally； how to make
love。
Thanks to these preparatory labours； he failed completely in his
examination for an ordinary degree。 He was expected home the same
night to celebrate his success。 He started on foot； stopped at
the beginning of the village； sent for his mother； and told her
all。 She excused him； threw the blame of his failure on the
injustice of the examiners； encouraged him a little； and took
upon herself to set matters straight。 It was only five years
later that Monsieur Bovary knew the truth； it was old then； and
he accepted it。 Moreover； he could not believe that a man born of
him could be a fool。
So Charles set to work again and crammed for his examination；
ceaselessly learning all the old questions by heart。 He passed
pretty well。 What a happy day for his mother！ They gave a grand
dinner。
Where should he go to practice？ To Tostes； where there was only
one old doctor。 For a long time Madame Bovary had been on the
look…out for his death； and the old fellow had barely been packed
off when Charles was installed； opposite his place； as his
successor。
But it was not everything to have brought up a son； to have had
him taught medicine； and discovered Tostes； where he could
practice it； he must have a wife。 She found him onethe widow of
a bailiff at Dieppewho was forty…five and had an income of
twelve hundred francs。 Though she was ugly； as dry as a bone； her
face with as many pimples as the spring has buds； Madame Dubuc
had no lack of suitors。 To attain her ends Madame Bovary had to
oust them all； and she even succeeded in very cleverly baffling
the intrigues of a port…butcher backed up by the priests。
Charles had seen in marriage the advent of an easier life；
thinking he would be more free to do as he liked with himself and
his money。 But his wife was master； he had to say this and not
say that in company； to fast every Friday； dress as she liked；
harass at her bidding those patients who did not pay。 She opened
his letter； watched his comings and goings； and listened at the
partition…wall when women came to consult him in his surgery。
She must have her chocolate every morning； attentions without
end。 She constantly complained of her nerves； her chest； her
liver。 The noise of footsteps made her ill； when people left her；
solitude became odious to her； if they came back； it was
doubtless to see her die。 When Charles returned in the evening；
she stretched forth two long thin arms from beneath the sheets；
put them round his neck； and having made him sit down on the edge
of the bed； began to talk to him of her troubles： he was
neglecting her； he loved another。 She had been warned she would
be unhappy； and she ended by asking him for a dose of medicine
and a little more love。
Chapter Two
One night towards eleven o'clock they were awakened by the noise
of a horse pulling up outside their door。 The servant opened the
garret…window and parleyed for some time with a man in the street
below。 He came for the doctor； had a letter for him。 Natasie came
downstairs shivering and undid the bars and bolts one after the
other。 The man left his horse； and； following the servant；
suddenly came in behind her。 He pulled out from his wool cap with
grey top…knots a letter wrapped up in a rag and presented it
gingerly to Charles； who rested on his elbow on the pillow to
read it。 Natasie； standing near the bed； held the light。 Madame
in modesty had turned to the wall and showed only her back。
This letter； sealed with a small seal in blue wax； begged
Monsieur Bovary to come immediately to the farm of the Bertaux to
set a broken leg。 Now from Tostes to the Bertaux was a good
eighteen miles across country by way of Longueville and
Saint…Victor。 It was a dark night； Madame Bovary junior was
afraid of accidents for her husband。 So it was decided the
stable…boy should go on first； Charles would start three hours
later when the moon rose。 A boy was to be sent to meet him； and
show him the way to the farm； and open the gates for him。
Towards four o'clock in the morning； Charles； well wrapped up in
his cloak； set out for the Bertaux。 Still sleepy from the warmth
of his bed； he let himself be lulled by the quiet trot of his
horse。 When it stopped of its own accord in front of those holes
surrounded with thorns that