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When Charles； after bidding farewell to old Rouault； returned to
the room before leaving； he found her standing； her forehead
against the window； looking into the garden； where the bean props
had been knocked down by the wind。 She turned round。 〃Are you
looking for anything？〃 she asked。
〃My whip； if you please；〃 he answered。
He began rummaging on the bed； behind the doors； under the
chairs。 It had fallen to the floor； between the sacks and the
wall。 Mademoiselle Emma saw it； and bent over the flour sacks。
Charles out of politeness made a dash also； and as he stretched
out his arm； at the same moment felt his breast brush against the
back of the young girl bending beneath him。 She drew herself up；
scarlet； and looked at him over her shoulder as she handed him
his whip。
Instead of returning to the Bertaux in three days as he had
promised； he went back the very next day； then regularly twice a
week； without counting the visits he paid now and then as if by
accident。
Everything； moreover； went well； the patient progressed
favourably； and when； at the end of forty…six days； old Rouault
was seen trying to walk alone in his 〃den；〃 Monsieur Bovary began
to be looked upon as a man of great capacity。 Old Rouault said
that he could not have been cured better by the first doctor of
Yvetot； or even of Rouen。
As to Charles； he did not stop to ask himself why it was a
pleasure to him to go to the Bertaux。 Had he done so； he would；
no doubt； have attributed his zeal to the importance of the case；
or perhaps to the money he hoped to make by it。 Was it for this；
however； that his visits to the farm formed a delightful
exception to the meagre occupations of his life？ On these days he
rose early； set off at a gallop； urging on his horse； then got
down to wipe his boots in the grass and put on black gloves
before entering。 He liked going into the courtyard； and noticing
the gate turn against his shoulder； the cock crow on the wall；
the lads run to meet him。 He liked the granary and the stables；
he liked old Rouault； who pressed his hand and called him his
saviour； he like the small wooden shoes of Mademoiselle Emma on
the scoured flags of the kitchenher high heels made her a
little taller； and when she walked in front of him； the wooden
soles springing up quickly struck with a sharp sound against the
leather of her boots。
She always accompanied him to the first step of the stairs。 When
his horse had not yet been brought round she stayed there。 They
had said 〃Good…bye〃； there was no more talking。 The open air
wrapped her round； playing with the soft down on the back of her
neck； or blew to and fro on her hips the apron…strings； that
fluttered like streamers。 Once； during a thaw the bark of the
trees in the yard was oozing； the snow on the roofs of the
outbuildings was melting； she stood on the threshold； and went to
fetch her sunshade and opened it。 The sunshade of silk of the
colour of pigeons' breasts； through which the sun shone； lighted
up with shifting hues the white skin of her face。 She smiled
under the tender warmth； and drops of water could be heard
falling one by one on the stretched silk。
During the first period of Charles's visits to the Bertaux；
Madame Bovary junior never failed to inquire after the invalid；
and she had even chosen in the book that she kept on a system of
double entry a clean blank page for Monsieur Rouault。 But when
she heard he had a daughter； she began to make inquiries； and she
learnt the Mademoiselle Rouault； brought up at the Ursuline
Convent； had received what is called 〃a good education〃； and so
knew dancing； geography； drawing； how to embroider and play the
piano。 That was the last straw。
〃So it is for this；〃 she said to herself； 〃that his face beams
when he goes to see her； and that he puts on his new waistcoat at
the risk of spoiling it with the rain。 Ah！ that woman！ That
woman！〃
And she detested her instinctively。 At first she solaced herself
by allusions that Charles did not understand； then by casual
observations that he let pass for fear of a storm； finally by
open apostrophes to which he knew not what to answer。 〃Why did he
go back to the Bertaux now that Monsieur Rouault was cured and
that these folks hadn't paid yet？ Ah！ it was because a young lady
was there； some one who know how to talk； to embroider； to be
witty。 That was what he cared about； he wanted town misses。〃 And
she went on
〃The daughter of old Rouault a town miss！ Get out！ Their
grandfather was a shepherd； and they have a cousin who was almost
had up at the assizes for a nasty blow in a quarrel。 It is not
worth while making such a fuss； or showing herself at church on
Sundays in a silk gown like a countess。 Besides； the poor old
chap； if it hadn't been for the colza last year； would have had
much ado to pay up his arrears。〃
For very weariness Charles left off going to the Bertaux。 Heloise
made him swear； his hand on the prayer…book； that he would go
there no more after much sobbing and many kisses； in a great
outburst of love。 He obeyed then； but the strength of his desire
protested against the servility of his conduct； and he thought；
with a kind of naive hypocrisy； that his interdict to see her
gave him a sort of right to love her。 And then the widow was
thin； she had long teeth； wore in all weathers a little black
shawl； the edge of which hung down between her shoulder…blades；
her bony figure was sheathed in her clothes as if they were a
scabbard； they were too short； and displayed her ankles with the
laces of her large boots crossed over grey stockings。
Charles's mother came to see them from time to time； but after a
few days the daughter…in…law seemed to put her own edge on her；
and then； like two knives； they scarified him with their
reflections and observations。 It was wrong of him to eat so much。
Why did he always offer a glass of something to everyone who
came？ What obstinacy not to wear flannels！ In the spring it came
about that a notary at Ingouville； the holder of the widow
Dubuc's property； one fine day went off； taking with him all the
money in his office。 Heloise； it is true； still possessed；
besides a share in a boat valued at six thousand francs； her
house in the Rue St。 Francois； and yet； with all this fortune
that had been so trumpeted abroad； nothing； excepting perhaps a
little furniture and a few clothes； had appeared in the
household。 The matter had to be gone into。 The house at Dieppe
was found to be eaten up with mortgages to its foundations； what
she had placed with the notary God only knew； and her share in
the boat did not exceed one thousand crowns。 She had lied； the
good lady！ In his exasperation； Monsieur Bovary the elder；
smashing a chair on the flags； accused his wife of having caused
misfortune to the son by harnessing him to such a harridan； whose
harness wasn't worth her hide。 They came to Tostes。 Explanations
followed。 There were scenes。 Heloise in tears； throwing her arms
about her husband； implored him to defend her from his parents。
Charles tried to speak up for her。 They grew angry and left the
house。
But 〃the blow had struck home。〃 A week after； as she was hanging
up some washing in h