按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
experience； the difference of sentiment beneath the sameness of
expression。 Because lips libertine and venal had murmured such
words to him； he believed but little in the candour of hers；
exaggerated speeches hiding mediocre affections must be
discounted； as if the fullness of the soul did not sometimes
overflow in the emptiest metaphors； since no one can ever give
the exact measure of his needs； nor of his conceptions； nor of
his sorrows； and since human speech is like a cracked tin kettle；
on which we hammer out tunes to make tears dance when we long to
move the stars。
But with that superior critical judgment that belongs to him who；
in no matter what circumstance； holds back； Rodolphe saw other
delights to be got out of this love。 He thought all modesty in
the way。 He treated her quite sans facon。* He made of her
something supple and corrupt。 Hers was an idiotic sort of
attachment； full of admiration for him； of voluptuousness for
her； a beatitude that benumbed her； her soul sank into this
drunkenness； shrivelled up； drowned in it； like Clarence in his
butt of Malmsey。
*Off…handedly。
By the mere effect of her love Madame Bovary's manners changed。
Her looks grew bolder； her speech more free； she even committed
the impropriety of walking out with Monsieur Rodolphe； a
cigarette in her mouth； 〃as if to defy the people。〃 At last；
those who still doubted doubted no longer when one day they saw
her getting out of the 〃Hirondelle；〃 her waist squeezed into a
waistcoat like a man； and Madame Bovary senior； who； after a
fearful scene with her husband； had taken refuge at her son's；
was not the least scandalised of the women…folk。 Many other
things displeased her。 First； Charles had not attended to her
advice about the forbidding of novels； then the 〃ways of the
house〃 annoyed her； she allowed herself to make some remarks； and
there were quarrels； especially one on account of Felicite。
Madame Bovary senior； the evening before； passing along the
passage； had surprised her in company of a mana man with a
brown collar； about forty years old； who； at the sound of her
step； had quickly escaped through the kitchen。 Then Emma began to
laugh； but the good lady grew angry； declaring that unless morals
were to be laughed at one ought to look after those of one's
servants。
〃Where were you brought up？〃 asked the daughter…in…law； with so
impertinent a look that Madame Bovary asked her if she were not
perhaps defending her own case。
〃Leave the room！〃 said the young woman； springing up with a
bound。
〃Emma！ Mamma！〃 cried Charles； trying to reconcile them。
But both had fled in their exasperation。 Emma was stamping her
feet as she repeated
〃Oh！ what manners！ What a peasant！〃
He ran to his mother； she was beside herself。 She stammered
〃She is an insolent； giddy…headed thing； or perhaps worse！〃
And she was for leaving at once if the other did not apologise。
So Charles went back again to his wife and implored her to give
way； he knelt to her； she ended by saying
〃Very well！ I'll go to her。〃
And in fact she held out her hand to her mother…in…law with the
dignity of a marchioness as she said
〃Excuse me； madame。〃
Then； having gone up again to her room； she threw herself flat on
her bed and cried there like a child； her face buried in the
pillow。
She and Rodolphe had agreed that in the event of anything
extraordinary occurring； she should fasten a small piece of white
paper to the blind； so that if by chance he happened to be in
Yonville； he could hurry to the lane behind the house。 Emma made
the signal； she had been waiting three…quarters of an hour when
she suddenly caught sight of Rodolphe at the corner of the
market。 She felt tempted to open the window and call him； but he
had already disappeared。 She fell back in despair。
Soon； however； it seemed to her that someone was walking on the
pavement。 It was he； no doubt。 She went downstairs； crossed the
yard。 He was there outside。 She threw herself into his arms。
〃Do take care！〃 he said。
〃Ah！ if you knew！〃 she replied。
And she began telling him everything； hurriedly； disjointedly；
exaggerating the facts； inventing many； and so prodigal of
parentheses that he understood nothing of it。
〃Come； my poor angel； courage！ Be comforted！ be patient！〃
〃But I have been patient； I have suffered for four years。 A love
like ours ought to show itself in the face of heaven。 They
torture me！ I can bear it no longer！ Save me！〃
She clung to Rodolphe。 Her eyes； full of tears； flashed like
flames beneath a wave； her breast heaved； he had never loved her
so much； so that he lost his head and said 〃What is； it？ What do
you wish？〃
〃Take me away；〃 she cried； 〃carry me off！ Oh； I pray you！〃
And she threw herself upon his mouth； as if to seize there the
unexpected consent if breathed forth in a kiss。
〃But〃 Rodolphe resumed。
〃What？〃
〃Your little girl！〃
She reflected a few moments； then replied
〃We will take her！ It can't be helped！〃
〃What a woman！〃 he said to himself； watching her as she went。 For
she had run into the garden。 Someone was calling her。
On the following days Madame Bovary senior was much surprised at
the change in her daughter…in…law。 Emma； in fact； was showing
herself more docile； and even carried her deference so far as to
ask for a recipe for pickling gherkins。
Was it the better to deceive them both？ Or did she wish by a sort
of voluptuous stoicism to feel the more profoundly the bitterness
of the things she was about to leave？
But she paid no heed to them； on the contrary； she lived as lost
in the anticipated delight of her coming happiness。
It was an eternal subject for conversation with Rodolphe。 She
leant on his shoulder murmuring
〃Ah！ when we are in the mail…coach！ Do you think about it？ Can it
be？ It seems to me that the moment I feel the carriage start； it
will be as if we were rising in a balloon； as if we were setting
out for the clouds。 Do you know that I count the hours？ And you？〃
Never had Madame Bovary been so beautiful as at this period； she
had that indefinable beauty that results from joy； from
enthusiasm； from success； and that is only the harmony of
temperament with circumstances。 Her desires； her sorrows； the
experience of pleasure； and her ever…young illusions； that had；
as soil and rain and winds and the sun make flowers grow；
gradually developed her； and she at length blossomed forth in all
the plenitude of her nature。 Her eyelids seemed chiselled
expressly for her long amorous looks in which the pupil
disappeared； while a strong inspiration expanded her delicate
nostrils and raised the fleshy corner of her lips； shaded in the
light by a little black down。 One would have thought that an
artist apt in conception had arranged the curls of hair upon her
neck； they fell in a thick mass； negligently； and with the
changing chances of their adultery； that unbound them every day。
Her voice now took more mellow infections； her figure also；
something subtle and penetrating escaped even from the folds of
her gown and from the line of her foot。 Charles； as when they
were first married； thought her delicious and quite irresistible。
When he came home in the middle of the night； he did no