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ray of the sun fell across the nave and seemed to darken the
lower sides and the corners。
〃Where is the cure？〃 asked Madame Bovary of one of the lads； who
was amusing himself by shaking a swivel in a hole too large for
it。
〃He is just coming；〃 he answered。
And in fact the door of the presbytery grated； Abbe Bournisien
appeared； the children； pell…mell； fled into the church。
〃These young scamps！〃 murmured the priest； 〃always the same！〃
Then； picking up a catechism all in rags that he had struck with
is foot； 〃They respect nothing！〃 But as soon as he caught sight
of Madame Bovary； 〃Excuse me；〃 he said； 〃I did not recognise
you。〃
He thrust the catechism into his pocket； and stopped short；
balancing the heavy vestry key between his two fingers。
The light of the setting sun that fell full upon his face paled
the lasting of his cassock； shiny at the elbows； unravelled at
the hem。 Grease and tobacco stains followed along his broad chest
the lines of the buttons； and grew more numerous the farther they
were from his neckcloth； in which the massive folds of his red
chin rested； this was dotted with yellow spots； that disappeared
beneath the coarse hair of his greyish beard。 He had just dined
and was breathing noisily。
〃How are you？〃 he added。
〃Not well；〃 replied Emma； 〃I am ill。〃
〃Well； and so am I；〃 answered the priest。 〃These first warm days
weaken one most remarkably； don't they？ But； after all； we are
born to suffer； as St。 Paul says。 But what does Monsieur Bovary
think of it？〃
〃He！〃 she said with a gesture of contempt。
〃What！〃 replied the good fellow； quite astonished； doesn't he
prescribe something for you？〃
〃Ah！〃 said Emma； 〃it is no earthly remedy I need。〃
But the cure from time to time looked into the church； where the
kneeling boys were shouldering one another； and tumbling over
like packs of cards。
〃I should like to know〃 she went on。
〃You look out； Riboudet；〃 cried the priest in an angry voice；
〃I'll warm your ears； you imp！〃 Then turning to Emma； 〃He's
Boudet the carpenter's son； his parents are well off； and let him
do just as he pleases。 Yet he could learn quickly if he would；
for he is very sharp。 And so sometimes for a joke I call him
Riboudet （like the road one takes to go to Maromme） and I even
say 'Mon Riboudet。' Ha！ Ha！ 'Mont Riboudet。' The other day I
repeated that just to Monsignor； and he laughed at it； he
condescended to laugh at it。 And how is Monsieur Bovary？〃
She seemed not to hear him。 And he went on
〃Always very busy； no doubt； for he and I are certainly the
busiest people in the parish。 But he is doctor of the body；〃 he
added with a thick laugh； 〃and I of the soul。〃
She fixed her pleading eyes upon the priest。 〃Yes；〃 she said；
〃you solace all sorrows。〃
〃Ah！ don't talk to me of it； Madame Bovary。 This morning I had to
go to Bas…Diauville for a cow that was ill； they thought it was
under a spell。 All their cows； I don't know how it isBut pardon
me！ Longuemarre and Boudet！ Bless me！ Will you leave off？〃
And with a bound he ran into the church。
The boys were just then clustering round the large desk； climbing
over the precentor's footstool； opening the missal； and others on
tiptoe were just about to venture into the confessional。 But the
priest suddenly distributed a shower of cuffs among them。 Seizing
them by the collars of their coats； he lifted them from the
ground； and deposited them on their knees on the stones of the
choir； firmly； as if he meant planting them there。
〃Yes；〃 said he； when he returned to Emma； unfolding his large
cotton handkerchief； one corner of which he put between his
teeth； 〃farmers are much to be pitied。〃
〃Others； too；〃 she replied。
〃Assuredly。 Town…labourers； for example。〃
〃It is not they〃
〃Pardon！ I've there known poor mothers of families； virtuous
women； I assure you； real saints； who wanted even bread。〃
〃But those；〃 replied Emma； and the corners of her mouth twitched
as she spoke； 〃those； Monsieur le Cure； who have bread and have
no〃
〃Fire in the winter；〃 said the priest。
〃Oh； what does that matter？〃
〃What！ What does it matter？ It seems to me that when one has
firing and foodfor； after all〃
〃My God！ my God！〃 she sighed。
〃It is indigestion； no doubt？ You must get home； Madame Bovary；
drink a little tea； that will strengthen you； or else a glass of
fresh water with a little moist sugar。〃
〃Why？〃 And she looked like one awaking from a dream。
〃Well； you see； you were putting your hand to your forehead。 I
thought you felt faint。〃 Then； bethinking himself； 〃But you were
asking me something？ What was it？ I really don't remember。〃
〃I？ Nothing！ nothing！〃 repeated Emma。
And the glance she cast round her slowly fell upon the old man in
the cassock。 They looked at one another face to face without
speaking。
〃Then； Madame Bovary；〃 he said at last； 〃excuse me； but duty
first； you know； I must look after my good…for…nothings。 The
first communion will soon be upon us； and I fear we shall be
behind after all。 So after Ascension Day I keep them recta* an
extra hour every Wednesday。 Poor children！ One cannot lead them
too soon into the path of the Lord； as； moreover； he has himself
recommended us to do by the mouth of his Divine Son。 Good health
to you； madame； my respects to your husband。〃
*On the straight and narrow path。
And he went into the church making a genuflexion as soon as he
reached the door。
Emma saw him disappear between the double row of forms； walking
with a heavy tread； his head a little bent over his shoulder； and
with his two hands half…open behind him。
Then she turned on her heel all of one piece； like a statue on a
pivot； and went homewards。 But the loud voice of the priest； the
clear voices of the boys still reached her ears； and went on
behind her。
〃Are you a Christian？〃
〃Yes； I am a Christian。〃
〃What is a Christian？〃
〃He who； being baptized…baptized…baptized〃
She went up the steps of the staircase holding on to the
banisters； and when she was in her room threw herself into an
arm…chair。
The whitish light of the window…panes fell with soft undulations。
The furniture in its place seemed to have become more immobile；
and to lose itself in the shadow as in an ocean of darkness。 The
fire was out； the clock went on ticking； and Emma vaguely
marvelled at this calm of all things while within herself was
such tumult。 But little Berthe was there； between the window and
the work…table； tottering on her knitted shoes； and trying to
come to her mother to catch hold of the ends of her
apron…strings。
〃Leave me alone；〃 said the latter； putting her from her with her
hand。
The little girl soon came up closer against her knees； and
leaning on them with her arms； she looked up with her large blue
eyes； while a small thread of pure saliva dribbled from her lips
on to the silk apron。
〃Leave me alone；〃 repeated the young woman quite irritably。
Her face frightened the child； who began to scream。
〃Will you leave me alone？〃 she said； pushing her with her elbow。
Berthe fell at the foot of the drawers against the brass handle；
cutting her cheek； which began to bleed； against it。 Madame
Bovary sprang to lift her up； broke the bell…rope； called for the
servant with all her mi