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exasperates them。 Thus his cambric shirt with plaited cuffs was
blown out by the wind in the opening of his waistcoat of grey
ticking； and his broad…striped trousers disclosed at the ankle
nankeen boots with patent leather gaiters。
These were so polished that they reflected the grass。 He trampled
on horses's dung with them； one hand in the pocket of his jacket
and his straw hat on one side。
〃Besides；〃 added he； 〃when one lives in the country〃
〃It's waste of time；〃 said Emma。
〃That is true；〃 replied Rodolphe。 〃To think that not one of these
people is capable of understanding even the cut of a coat！〃
Then they talked about provincial mediocrity； of the lives it
crushed； the illusions lost there。
〃And I too；〃 said Rodolphe； 〃am drifting into depression。〃
〃You！〃 she said in astonishment； 〃I thought you very
light…hearted。〃
〃Ah！ yes。 I seem so； because in the midst of the world I know how
to wear the mask of a scoffer upon my face； and yet； how many a
time at the sight of a cemetery by moonlight have I not asked
myself whether it were not better to join those sleeping there！〃
〃Oh！ and your friends？〃 she said。 〃You do not think of them。〃
〃My friends！ What friends？ Have I any？ Who cares for me？〃 And he
accompanied the last words with a kind of whistling of the lips。
But they were obliged to separate from each other because of a
great pile of chairs that a man was carrying behind them。 He was
so overladen with them that one could only see the tips of his
wooden shoes and the ends of his two outstretched arms。 It was
Lestiboudois； the gravedigger； who was carrying the church chairs
about amongst the people。 Alive to all that concerned his
interests； he had hit upon this means of turning the show to
account； and his idea was succeeding； for he no longer knew which
way to turn。 In fact； the villagers； who were hot； quarreled for
these seats； whose straw smelt of incense； and they leant against
the thick backs； stained with the wax of candles； with a certain
veneration。
Madame Bovary again took Rodolphe's arm； he went on as if
speaking to himself
〃Yes； I have missed so many things。 Always alone！ Ah！ if I had
some aim in life； if I had met some love； if I had found someone！
Oh； how I would have spent all the energy of which I am capable；
surmounted everything； overcome everything！〃
〃Yet it seems to me；〃 said Emma； 〃that you are not to be pitied。〃
〃Ah！ you think so？〃 said Rodolphe。
〃For； after all；〃 she went on； 〃you are free〃 she hesitated；
〃rich〃
〃Do not mock me；〃 he replied。
And she protested that she was not mocking him； when the report
of a cannon resounded。 Immediately all began hustling one another
pell…mell towards the village。
It was a false alarm。 The prefect seemed not to be coming； and
the members of the jury felt much embarrassed； not knowing if
they ought to begin the meeting or still wait。
At last at the end of the Place a large hired landau appeared；
drawn by two thin horses； which a coachman in a white hat was
whipping lustily。 Binet had only just time to shout； 〃Present
arms！〃 and the colonel to imitate him。 All ran towards the
enclosure； everyone pushed forward。 A few even forgot their
collars； but the equipage of the prefect seemed to anticipate the
crowd； and the two yoked jades； trapesing in their harness； came
up at a little trot in front of the peristyle of the town hall at
the very moment when the National Guard and firemen deployed；
beating drums and marking time。
〃Present！〃 shouted Binet。
〃Halt！〃 shouted the colonel。 〃Left about； march。〃
And after presenting arms； during which the clang of the band；
letting loose； rang out like a brass kettle rolling downstairs；
all the guns were lowered。 Then was seen stepping down from the
carriage a gentleman in a short coat with silver braiding； with
bald brow； and wearing a tuft of hair at the back of his head； of
a sallow complexion and the most benign appearance。 His eyes；
very large and covered by heavy lids； were half…closed to look at
the crowd； while at the same time he raised his sharp nose； and
forced a smile upon his sunken mouth。 He recognised the mayor by
his scarf； and explained to him that the prefect was not able to
come。 He himself was a councillor at the prefecture； then he
added a few apologies。 Monsieur Tuvache answered them with
compliments； the other confessed himself nervous； and they
remained thus； face to face； their foreheads almost touching；
with the members of the jury all round； the municipal council；
the notable personages； the National Guard and the crowd。 The
councillor pressing his little cocked hat to his breast repeated
his bows； while Tuvache； bent like a bow； also smiled； stammered；
tried to say something； protested his devotion to the monarchy
and the honour that was being done to Yonville。
Hippolyte； the groom from the inn； took the head of the horses
from the coachman； and； limping along with his club…foot； led
them to the door of the 〃Lion d'Or〃； where a number of peasants
collected to look at the carriage。 The drum beat； the howitzer
thundered； and the gentlemen one by one mounted the platform；
where they sat down in red utrecht velvet arm…chairs that had
been lent by Madame Tuvache。
All these people looked alike。 Their fair flabby faces； somewhat
tanned by the sun； were the colour of sweet cider； and their
puffy whiskers emerged from stiff collars； kept up by white
cravats with broad bows。 All the waist…coats were of velvet；
double…breasted； all the watches had； at the end of a long
ribbon； an oval cornelian seal； everyone rested his two hands on
his thighs； carefully stretching the stride of their trousers；
whose unsponged glossy cloth shone more brilliantly than the
leather of their heavy boots。
The ladies of the company stood at the back under the vestibule
between the pillars while the common herd was opposite； standing
up or sitting on chairs。 As a matter of fact； Lestiboudois had
brought thither all those that he had moved from the field； and
he even kept running back every minute to fetch others from the
church。 He caused such confusion with this piece of business that
one had great difficulty in getting to the small steps of the
platform。
〃I think；〃 said Monsieur Lheureux to the chemist； who was passing
to his place； 〃that they ought to have put up two Venetian masts
with something rather severe and rich for ornaments； it would
have been a very pretty effect。〃
〃To be sure；〃 replied Homais； 〃but what can you expect？ The mayor
took everything on his own shoulders。 He hasn't much taste。 Poor
Tuvache！ and he is even completely destitute of what is called
the genius of art。〃
Rodolphe； meanwhile； with Madame Bovary； had gone up to the first
floor of the town hall； to the 〃council…room；〃 and； as it was
empty； he declared that they could enjoy the sight there more
comfortably。 He fetched three stools from the round table under
the bust of the monarch； and having carried them to one of the
windows； they sat down by each other。
There was commotion on the platform； long whisperings； much
parleying。 At last the councillor got up。 They knew now that his
name was Lieuvain； and in the crowd the name was passed from one
to t