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society？ But you must pull hard at the oar if you're to do that；
and get； as； people say； callosities upon your hands。 Fabricando
fit faber； age quod agis。*
* The worker lives by working； do what he will。
He was so exasperated he quoted Latin。 He would have quoted
Chinese or Greenlandish had he known those two languages； for he
was in one of those crises in which the whole soul shows
indistinctly what it contains； like the ocean； which； in the
storm； opens itself from the seaweeds on its shores down to the
sands of its abysses。
And he went on
〃I am beginning to repent terribly of having taken you up！ I
should certainly have done better to have left you to rot in your
poverty and the dirt in which you were born。 Oh； you'll never be
fit for anything but to herd animals with horns！ You have no
aptitude for science！ You hardly know how to stick on a label！
And there you are； dwelling with me snug as a parson； living in
clover； taking your ease！〃
But Emma； turning to Madame Homais； 〃I was told to come here〃
〃Oh； dear me！〃 interrupted the good woman； with a sad air； 〃how
am I to tell you？ It is a misfortune！〃
She could not finish； the druggist was thundering〃Empty it！
Clean it！ Take it back！ Be quick！〃
And seizing Justin by the collar of his blouse； he shook a book
out of his pocket。 The lad stooped； but Homais was the quicker；
and； having picked up the volume； contemplated it with staring
eyes and open mouth。
〃CONJUGALLOVE！〃 he said； slowly separating the two words。 〃Ah！
very good！ very good！ very pretty！ And illustrations！ Oh； this is
too much！〃
Madame Homais came forward。
〃No； do not touch it！〃
The children wanted to look at the pictures。
〃Leave the room；〃 he said imperiously； and they went out。
First he walked up and down with the open volume in his hand；
rolling his eyes； choking； tumid； apoplectic。 Then he came
straight to his pupil； and； planting himself in front of him with
crossed arms
〃Have you every vice； then； little wretch？ Take care！ you are on
a downward path。 Did not you reflect that this infamous book
might fall in the hands of my children； kindle a spark in their
minds； tarnish the purity of Athalie； corrupt Napoleon。 He is
already formed like a man。 Are you quite sure； anyhow； that they
have not read it？ Can you certify to me〃
〃But really； sir；〃 said Emma； 〃you wished to tell me〃
〃Ah； yes！ madame。 Your father…in…law is dead。〃
In fact； Monsieur Bovary senior had expired the evening before
suddenly from an attack of apoplexy as he got up from table； and
by way of greater precaution； on account of Emma's sensibility；
Charles had begged Homais to break the horrible news to her
gradually。 Homais had thought over his speech； he had rounded；
polished it； made it rhythmical； it was a masterpiece of prudence
and transitions； of subtle turns and delicacy； but anger had got
the better of rhetoric。
Emma； giving up all chance of hearing any details； left the
pharmacy； for Monsieur Homais had taken up the thread of his
vituperations。 However； he was growing calmer； and was now
grumbling in a paternal tone whilst he fanned himself with his
skull…cap。
〃It is not that I entirely disapprove of the work。 Its author was
a doctor！ There are certain scientific points in it that it is
not ill a man should know； and I would even venture to say that a
man must know。 But laterlater！ At any rate； not till you are
man yourself and your temperament is formed。〃
When Emma knocked at the door。 Charles； who was waiting for her；
came forward with open arms and said to her with tears in his
voice
〃Ah！ my dear！〃
And he bent over her gently to kiss her。 But at the contact of
his lips the memory of the other seized her； and she passed her
hand over her face shuddering。
But she made answer； 〃Yes； I know； I know！〃
He showed her the letter in which his mother told the event
without any sentimental hypocrisy。 She only regretted her husband
had not received the consolations of religion； as he had died at
Daudeville； in the street； at the door of a cafe after a
patriotic dinner with some ex…officers。
Emma gave him back the letter； then at dinner； for appearance's
sake； she affected a certain repugnance。 But as he urged her to
try； she resolutely began eating； while Charles opposite her sat
motionless in a dejected attitude。
Now and then he raised his head and gave her a long look full of
distress。 Once he sighed； 〃I should have liked to see him again！〃
She was silent。 At last； understanding that she must say
something； 〃How old was your father？〃 she asked。
〃Fifty…eight。〃
〃Ah！〃
And that was all。
A quarter of an hour after he added； 〃My poor mother！ what will
become of her now？〃
She made a gesture that signified she did not know。 Seeing her so
taciturn； Charles imagined her much affected； and forced himself
to say nothing； not to reawaken this sorrow which moved him。 And；
shaking off his own
〃Did you enjoy yourself yesterday？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。〃
When the cloth was removed； Bovary did not rise； nor did Emma；
and as she looked at him； the monotony of the spectacle drove
little by little all pity from her heart。 He seemed to her
paltry； weak； a cipherin a word； a poor thing in every way。 How
to get rid of him？ What an interminable evening！ Something
stupefying like the fumes of opium seized her。
They heard in the passage the sharp noise of a wooden leg on the
boards。 It was Hippolyte bringing back Emma's luggage。 In order
to put it down he described painfully a quarter of a circle with
his stump。
〃He doesn't even remember any more about it；〃 she thought；
looking at the poor devil； whose coarse red hair was wet with
perspiration。
Bovary was searching at the bottom of his purse for a centime；
and without appearing to understand all there was of humiliation
for him in the mere presence of this man； who stood there like a
personified reproach to his incurable incapacity。
〃Hallo！ you've a pretty bouquet；〃 he said； noticing Leon's
violets on the chimney。
〃Yes；〃 she replied indifferently； 〃it's a bouquet I bought just
now from a beggar。〃
Charles picked up the flowers； and freshening his eyes； red with
tears； against them； smelt them delicately。
She took them quickly from his hand and put them in a glass of
water。
The next day Madame Bovary senior arrived。 She and her son wept
much。 Emma； on the pretext of giving orders； disappeared。 The
following day they had a talk over the mourning。 They went and
sat down with their workboxes by the waterside under the arbour。
Charles was thinking of his father； and was surprised to feel so
much affection for this man； whom till then he had thought he
cared little about。 Madame Bovary senior was thinking of her
husband。 The worst days of the past seemed enviable to her。 All
was forgotten beneath the instinctive regret of such a long
habit； and from time to time whilst she sewed； a big tear rolled
along her nose and hung suspended there a moment。 Emma was
thinking that it was scarcely forty…eight hours since they had
been together； far from the world； all in a frenzy of joy； and
not having eyes enough to gaze upon each other。 She tried to
recall the slightest details of that past day。 But the presence
of