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Emma was seized with a vague fear at this shyness； more dangerous
to her than the boldness of Rodolphe when he advanced to her
open…armed。 No man had ever seemed to her so beautiful。 An
exquisite candour emanated from his being。 He lowered his long
fine eyelashes； that curled upwards。 His cheek； with the soft
skin reddened； she thought； with desire of her person； and Emma
felt an invincible longing to press her lips to it。 Then； leaning
towards the clock as if to see the time
〃Ah！ how late it is！〃 she said； 〃how we do chatter！〃
He understood the hint and took up his hat。
〃It has even made me forget the theatre。 And poor Bovary has left
me here especially for that。 Monsieur Lormeaux； of the Rue
Grand…Pont； was to take me and his wife。〃
And the opportunity was lost； as she was to leave the next day。
〃Really！〃 said Leon。
〃Yes。〃
〃But I must see you again；〃 he went on。 〃I wanted to tell you〃
〃What？〃
〃Somethingimportantserious。 Oh； no！ Besides； you will not go；
it is impossible。 If you shouldlisten to me。 Then you have not
understood me； you have not guessed〃
〃Yet you speak plainly；〃 said Emma。
〃Ah！ you can jest。 Enough！ enough！ Oh； for pity's sake； let me
see you onceonly once！〃
〃Well〃She stopped； then； as if thinking better of it； 〃Oh； not
here！〃
〃Where you will。〃
〃Will you〃She seemed to reflect； then abruptly； 〃To…morrow at
eleven o'clock in the cathedral。〃
〃I shall be there；〃 he cried； seizing her hands； which she
disengaged。
And as they were both standing up； he behind her； and Emma with
her head bent； he stooped over her and pressed long kisses on her
neck。
〃You are mad！ Ah！ you are mad！〃 she said； with sounding little
laughs； while the kisses multiplied。
Then bending his head over her shoulder； he seemed to beg the
consent of her eyes。 They fell upon him full of an icy dignity。
Leon stepped back to go out。 He stopped on the threshold； then he
whispered with a trembling voice； 〃Tomorrow！〃
She answered with a nod； and disappeared like a bird into the
next room。
In the evening Emma wrote the clerk an interminable letter； in
which she cancelled the rendezvous； all was over； they must not；
for the sake of their happiness； meet again。 But when the letter
was finished； as she did not know Leon's address； she was
puzzled。
〃I'll give it to him myself；〃 she said； 〃he will come。〃
The next morning； at the open window； and humming on his balcony；
Leon himself varnished his pumps with several coatings。 He put on
white trousers； fine socks； a green coat； emptied all the scent
he had into his handkerchief； then having had his hair curled； he
uncurled it again； in order to give it a more natural elegance。
〃It is still too early；〃 he thought； looking at the hairdresser's
cuckoo…clock； that pointed to the hour of nine。 He read an old
fashion journal； went out； smoked a cigar； walked up three
streets； thought it was time； and went slowly towards the porch
of Notre Dame。
It was a beautiful summer morning。 Silver plate sparkled in the
jeweller's windows； and the light falling obliquely on the
cathedral made mirrors of the corners of the grey stones； a flock
of birds fluttered in the grey sky round the trefoil
bell…turrets； the square； resounding with cries； was fragrant
with the flowers that bordered its pavement； roses； jasmines；
pinks； narcissi； and tube…roses； unevenly spaced out between
moist grasses； catmint； and chickweed for the birds； the
fountains gurgled in the centre； and under large umbrellas；
amidst melons； piled up in heaps； flower…women； bare…headed； were
twisting paper round bunches of violets。
The young man took one。 It was the first time that he had bought
flowers for a woman； and his breast； as he smelt them； swelled
with pride； as if this homage that he meant for another had
recoiled upon himself。
But he was afraid of being seen； he resolutely entered the
church。 The beadle； who was just then standing on the threshold
in the middle of the left doorway； under the 〃Dancing Marianne；〃
with feather cap； and rapier dangling against his calves； came
in； more majestic than a cardinal； and as shining as a saint on a
holy pyx。
He came towards Leon； and； with that smile of wheedling benignity
assumed by ecclesiastics when they question children
〃The gentleman； no doubt； does not belong to these parts？ The
gentleman would like to see the curiosities of the church？〃
〃No！〃 said the other。
And he first went round the lower aisles。 Then he went out to
look at the Place。 Emma was not coming yet。 He went up again to
the choir。
The nave was reflected in the full fonts with the beginning of
the arches and some portions of the glass windows。 But the
reflections of the paintings； broken by the marble rim； were
continued farther on upon the flag…stones； like a many…coloured
carpet。 The broad daylight from without streamed into the church
in three enormous rays from the three opened portals。 From time
to time at the upper end a sacristan passed； making the oblique
genuflexion of devout persons in a hurry。 The crystal lustres
hung motionless。 In the choir a silver lamp was burning； and from
the side chapels and dark places of the church sometimes rose
sounds like sighs； with the clang of a closing grating； its echo
reverberating under the lofty vault。
Leon with solemn steps walked along by the walls。 Life had never
seemed so good to him。 She would come directly； charming；
agitated； looking back at the glances that followed her； and with
her flounced dress； her gold eyeglass； her thin shoes； with all
sorts of elegant trifles that he had never enjoyed； and with the
ineffable seduction of yielding virtue。 The church like a huge
boudoir spread around her； the arches bent down to gather in the
shade the confession of her love； the windows shone resplendent
to illumine her face； and the censers would burn that she might
appear like an angel amid the fumes of the sweet…smelling odours。
But she did not come。 He sat down on a chair； and his eyes fell
upon a blue stained window representing boatmen carrying baskets。
He looked at it long； attentively； and he counted the scales of
the fishes and the button…holes of the doublets； while his
thoughts wandered off towards Emma。
The beadle； standing aloof； was inwardly angry at this individual
who took the liberty of admiring the cathedral by himself。 He
seemed to him to be conducting himself in a monstrous fashion； to
be robbing him in a sort； and almost committing sacrilege。
But a rustle of silk on the flags； the tip of a bonnet； a lined
cloakit was she！ Leon rose and ran to meet her。
Emma was pale。 She walked fast。
〃Read！〃 she said； holding out a paper to him。 〃Oh； no！〃
And she abruptly withdrew her hand to enter the chapel of the
Virgin； where； kneeling on a chair； she began to pray。
The young man was irritated at this bigot fancy； then he
nevertheless experienced a certain charm in seeing her； in the
middle of a rendezvous； thus lost in her devotions； like an
Andalusian marchioness； then he grew bored； for she seemed never
coming to an end。
Emma prayed； or rather strove to pray； hoping that some sudden
resolution might descend to her from heaven； and to draw down
divine aid she filled ful