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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 yourself〃
〃Leave me alone！〃 answered the tax…collector。 〃It's all right！〃
〃Do not be uneasy；〃 said the druggist； when he returned to his
friends。 〃Monsieur Binet has assured me that all precautions have
been taken。 No sparks have fallen； the pumps are full。 Let us go
to rest。〃
〃Ma foi！ I want it；〃 said Madame Homais； yawning at large。 〃But
never mind； we've had a beautiful day for our fete。〃
Rodolphe repeated in a low voice； and with a tender look； 〃Oh；
yes！ very beautiful！〃
And having bowed to one another； they separated。
Two days later； in the 〃Final de Rouen；〃 there was a long article
on the show。 Homais had composed it with verve the very next
morning。
〃Why these festoons； these flowers； these garlands？ Whither
hurries this crowd like the waves of a furious sea under the
torrents of a tropical sun pouring its heat upon our heads？〃
Then he spoke of the condition of the peasants。 Certainly the
Government was doing much； but not enough。 〃Courage！〃 he cried to
it； 〃a thousand reforms are indispensable； let us accomplish
them！〃 Then touching on the entry of the councillor； he did not
forget 〃the martial air of our militia；〃 nor 〃our most merry
village maidens；〃 nor the 〃bald…headed old men like patriarchs
who were there； and of whom some； the remnants of our phalanxes；
still felt their hearts beat at the manly sound of the drums。〃 He
cited himself among the first of the members of the jury； and he
even called attention in a note to the fact that Monsieur Homais；
chemist； had sent a memoir on cider to the agricultural society。
When he came to the distribution of the prizes； he painted the
joy of the prize…winners in dithyrambic strophes。 〃The father
embraced the son； the brother the brother； the husband his
consort。 More than one showed his humble medal with pride； and no
doubt when he got home to his good housewife； he hung it up
weeping on the modest walls of his cot。
〃About six o'clock a banquet prepared in the meadow of Monsieur
Leigeard brought together the principal personages of the fete。
The greatest cordiality reigned here。 Divers toasts were
proposed： Monsieur Lieuvain； the King； Monsieur Tuvache； the
Prefect； Monsieur Derozerays； Agriculture； Monsieur Homais；
Industry and the Fine Arts； those twin sisters； Monsieur
Leplichey； Progress。 In the evening some brilliant fireworks on a
sudden illumined the air。 One would have called it a veritable
kaleidoscope； a real operatic scene； and for a moment our little
locality might have thought itself transported into the midst of
a dream of the 'Thousand and One Nights。' 〃Let us state that no
untoward event disturbed this family meeting。〃 And he added 〃Only
the absence of the clergy was remarked。 No doubt the priests
understand progress in another fashion。 Just as you please；
messieurs the followers of Loyola！〃
Chapter Nine
Six weeks passed。 Rodolphe did not come again。 At last one
evening he appeared。
The day after the show he had said to himself〃We mustn't go
back too soon； that would be a mistake。〃
And at the end of a week he had gone off hunting。 After the
hunting he had thought it was too late； and then he reasoned
thus
〃If from the first day she loved me； she must from impatience to
see me again love me more。 Let's go on with it！〃
And he knew that his calculation had been right when； on entering
the room； he saw Emma turn pale。
She was alone。 The day was drawing in。 The small muslin curtain
along the windows deepened the twilight； and the gilding of the
barometer； on which the rays of the sun fell； shone in the
looking…glass between the meshes of the coral。
Rodolphe remained standing； and Emma hardly answered his first
conventional phrases。
〃I；〃 he said； 〃have been busy。 I have been ill。〃
〃Seriously？〃 she cried。
〃Well；〃 said Rodolphe； sitting down at her side on a footstool；
〃no； it was because I did not want to come back。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Can you not guess？〃
He looked at her again； but so hard that she lowered her head；
blushing。 He went on
〃Emma！〃
〃Sir；〃 she said； drawing back a little。
〃Ah！ you see；〃 replied he in a melancholy voice； 〃that I was
right not to come back； for this name； this name that fills my
whole soul； and that escaped me； you forbid me to use！ Madame
Bovary！ why all the world calls you thus！ Besides； it is not your
name； it is the name of another！〃
He repeated； 〃of another！〃 And he hid his face in his hands。
〃Yes； I think of you constantly。 The memory of you drives me to
despair。 Ah！ forgive me！ I will leave you！ Farewell！ I will go
far away； so far that you will never hear of me again； and yet
to…dayI know not what force impelled me towards you。 For one
does not struggle against Heaven； one cannot resist the smile of
angels； one is carried away by that which is beautiful； charming；
adorable。〃
It was the first time that Emma had heard such words spoken to
herself； and her pride； like one who reposes bathed in warmth；
expanded softly and fully at this glowing language。
〃But if I did not come；〃 he continued； 〃if I could not see you；
at least I have gazed long on all that surrounds you。 At
night…every night…I arose； I came hither； I watched your house；
its glimmering in the moon； the trees in the garden swaying
before your window； and the little lamp； a gleam shining through
the window…panes in the darkness。 Ah！ you never knew that there；
so near you； so far from you； was a poor wretch！〃
She turned towards him with a sob。
〃Oh； you are good！〃 she said。
〃No； I love you； that is all！ You do not doubt that！ Tell meone
wordonly one word！〃
And Rodolphe imperceptibly glided from the footstool to the
ground； but a sound of wooden shoes was heard in the kitchen； and
he noticed the door of the room was not closed。
〃How kind it would be of you；〃 he went on； rising； 〃if you would
humour a whim of mine。〃 It was to go over her house； he wanted to
know it； and Madame Bovary seeing no objection to this； they both
rose； when Charles came in。
〃Good morning； doctor；〃 Rodolphe said to him。
The doctor； flattered at this unexpected title； launched out into
obsequious phrases。 Of this the other took advantage to pull
himself together a little。
〃Madame was speaking to me；〃 he then said； 〃about her health。〃
Charles interrupted him； he had indeed a thousand anxieties； his
wife's palpitations of the heart were beginning again。 Then
Rodolphe asked if riding would not be good。
〃Certainly！ excellent！ just the thing！ There's an idea！ You ought
to follow it up。〃
And as she objected that she had no horse； Monsieur Rodolphe
offered one。 She refused his offer； he did not insist。 Then to
explain his visit he said that his ploughman； the man of the
blood…letting； still suffered from giddiness。
〃I'll call around；〃 said Bovary。
〃No； no！ I'll send him to you； we'll come； that will be more
convenient for you。〃
〃Ah！ very good！ I thank you。〃
And as soon as they were alone； 〃Why don't you accept Monsieur
Boulanger's kind offer？〃
She assumed a sulky air； invented a thousand excuses； and finally
declared that perhaps it would look odd。
〃Well； what the deuce do I c