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complete a charm。〃
〃To Monsieur Bain of Givry…Saint…Martin。〃
〃And I shall carry away with me the remembrance of you。〃
〃For a merino ram！〃
〃But you will forget me； I shall pass away like a shadow。〃
〃To Monsieur Belot of Notre…Dame。〃
〃Oh； no！ I shall be something in your thought； in your life；
shall I not？〃
〃Porcine race； prizesequal； to Messrs。 Leherisse and
Cullembourg； sixty francs！〃
Rodolphe was pressing her hand； and he felt it all warm and
quivering like a captive dove that wants to fly away； but；
whether she was trying to take it away or whether she was
answering his pressure； she made a movement with her fingers。 He
exclaimed
〃Oh； I thank you！ You do not repulse me！ You are good！ You
understand that I am yours！ Let me look at you； let me
contemplate you！〃
A gust of wind that blew in at the window ruffled the cloth on
the table； and in the square below all the great caps of the
peasant women were uplifted by it like the wings of white
butterflies fluttering。
〃Use of oil…cakes；〃 continued the president。 He was hurrying on：
〃Flemish manure…flax…growing…drainage…long leases…domestic
service。〃
Rodolphe was no longer speaking。 They looked at one another。 A
supreme desire made their dry lips tremble； and wearily； without
an effort； their fingers intertwined。
〃Catherine Nicaise Elizabeth Leroux； of Sassetot…la…Guerriere；
for fifty…four years of service at the same farm； a silver
medalvalue； twenty…five francs！〃
〃Where is Catherine Leroux？〃 repeated the councillor。
She did not present herself； and one could hear voices
whispering
〃Go up！〃
〃Don't be afraid！〃
〃Oh； how stupid she is！〃
〃Well； is she there？〃 cried Tuvache。
〃Yes； here she is。〃
〃Then let her come up！〃
Then there came forward on the platform a little old woman with
timid bearing； who seemed to shrink within her poor clothes。 On
her feet she wore heavy wooden clogs； and from her hips hung a
large blue apron。 Her pale face framed in a borderless cap was
more wrinkled than a withered russet apple。 And from the sleeves
of her red jacket looked out two large hands with knotty joints；
the dust of barns； the potash of washing the grease of wools had
so encrusted； roughened； hardened these that they seemed dirty；
although they had been rinsed in clear water； and by dint of long
service they remained half open； as if to bear humble witness for
themselves of so much suffering endured。 Something of monastic
rigidity dignified her face。 Nothing of sadness or of emotion
weakened that pale look。 In her constant living with animals she
had caught their dumbness and their calm。 It was the first time
that she found herself in the midst of so large a company； and
inwardly scared by the flags； the drums； the gentlemen in
frock…coats； and the order of the councillor； she stood
motionless； not knowing whether to advance or run away； nor why
the crowd was pushing her and the jury were smiling at her。
Thus stood before these radiant bourgeois this half…century of
servitude。
〃Approach； venerable Catherine Nicaise Elizabeth Leroux！〃 said
the councillor； who had taken the list of prize…winners from the
president； and； looking at the piece of paper and the old woman
by turns； he repeated in a fatherly tone〃Approach！ approach！〃
〃Are you deaf？〃 said Tuvache； fidgeting in his armchair； and he
began shouting in her ear； 〃Fifty…four years of service。 A silver
medal！ Twenty…five francs！ For you！〃
Then； when she had her medal； she looked at it； and a smile of
beatitude spread over her face； and as she walked away they could
hear her muttering 〃I'll give it to our cure up home； to say some
masses for me！〃
〃What fanaticism！〃 exclaimed the chemist； leaning across to the
notary。
The meeting was over； the crowd dispersed； and now that the
speeches had been read； each one fell back into his place again；
and everything into the old grooves； the masters bullied the
servants； and these struck the animals； indolent victors； going
back to the stalls； a green…crown on their horns。
The National Guards； however； had gone up to the first floor of
the town hall with buns spitted on their bayonets； and the
drummer of the battalion carried a basket with bottles。 Madame
Bovary took Rodolphe's arm； he saw her home； they separated at
her door； then he walked about alone in the meadow while he
waited for the time of the banquet。
The feast was long； noisy； ill served； the guests were so crowded
that they could hardly move their elbows； and the narrow planks
used for forms almost broke down under their weight。 They ate
hugely。 Each one stuffed himself on his own account。 Sweat stood
on every brow； and a whitish steam； like the vapour of a stream
on an autumn morning； floated above the table between the hanging
lamps。 Rodolphe； leaning against the calico of the tent was
thinking so earnestly of Emma that he heard nothing。 Behind him
on the grass the servants were piling up the dirty plates； his
neighbours were talking； he did not answer them； they filled his
glass； and there was silence in his thoughts in spite of the
growing noise。 He was dreaming of what she had said； of the line
of her lips； her face； as in a magic mirror； shone on the plates
of the shakos； the folds of her gown fell along the walls； and
days of love unrolled to all infinity before him in the vistas of
the future。
He saw her again in the evening during the fireworks； but she was
with her husband； Madame Homais； and the druggist； who was
worrying about the danger of stray rockets； and every moment he
left the company to go and give some advice to Binet。
The pyrotechnic pieces sent to Monsieur Tuvache had； through an
excess of caution； been shut up in his cellar； and so the damp
powder would not light； and the principal set piece； that was to
represent a dragon biting his tail； failed completely。 Now and
then a meagre Roman…candle went off； then the gaping crowd sent
up a shout that mingled with the cry of the women； whose waists
were being squeezed in the darkness。 Emma silently nestled
against Charles's shoulder； then； raising her chin； she watched
the luminous rays of the rockets against the dark sky。 Rodolphe
gazed at her in the light of the burning lanterns。
They went out one by one。 The stars shone out。 A few crops of
rain began to fall。 She knotted her fichu round her bare head。
At this moment the councillor's carriage came out from the inn。
His coachman； who was drunk； suddenly dozed off； and one could
see from the distance； above the hood； between the two lanterns；
the mass of his body； that swayed from right to left with the
giving of the traces。
〃Truly；〃 said the druggist； 〃one ought to proceed most rigorously
against drunkenness！ I should like to see written up weekly at
the door of the town hall on a board ad hoc* the names of all
those who during the week got intoxicated on alcohol。 Besides；
with regard to statistics； one would thus have； as it were；
public records that one could refer to in case of need。 But
excuse me！〃
*Specifically for that。
And he once more ran off to the captain。 The latter was going
back to see his lathe again。
〃Perhaps you would not do ill；〃 Homais said to him； 〃to send one
of your men； or to go y