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！
recall the slightest details of that past day。 But the presence
of her husband and mother…in…law worried her。 She would have
liked to hear nothing； to see nothing； so as not to disturb the
meditation on her love； that； do what she would； became lost in
external sensations。
She was unpicking the lining of a dress； and the strips were
scattered around her。 Madame Bovary senior was plying her scissor
without looking up； and Charles； in his list slippers and his old
brown surtout that he used as a dressing…gown； sat with both
hands in his pockets； and did not speak either； near them Berthe；
in a little white pinafore； was raking sand in the walks with her
spade。 Suddenly she saw Monsieur Lheureux； the linendraper； come
in through the gate。
He came to offer his services 〃under the sad circumstances。〃 Emma
answered that she thought she could do without。 The shopkeeper
was not to be beaten。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 he said； 〃but I should like to have a
private talk with you。〃 Then in a low voice； 〃It's about that
affairyou know。〃
Charles crimsoned to his ears。 〃Oh； yes！ certainly。〃 And in his
confusion； turning to his wife； 〃Couldn't you； my darling？〃
She seemed to understand him； for she rose； and Charles said to
his mother； 〃It is nothing particular。 No doubt； some household
trifle。〃 He did not want her to know the story of the bill；
fearing her reproaches。
As soon as they were alone； Monsieur Lheureux in sufficiently
clear terms began to congratulate Emma on the inheritance； then
to talk of indifferent matters； of the espaliers； of the harvest；
and of his own health； which was always so…so； always having ups
and downs。 In fact； he had to work devilish hard； although he
didn't make enough； in spite of all people said； to find butter
for his bread。
Emma let him talk on。 She had bored herself so prodigiously the
last two days。
〃And so you're quite well again？〃 he went on。 〃Ma foi！ I saw your
husband in a sad state。 He's a good fellow； though we did have a
little misunderstanding。〃
She asked what misunderstanding； for Charles had said nothing of
the dispute about the goods supplied to her。
〃Why； you know well enough；〃 cried Lheureux。 〃It was about your
little fanciesthe travelling trunks。〃
He had drawn his hat over his eyes； and； with his hands behind
his back； smiling and whistling； he looked straight at her in an
unbearable manner。 Did he suspect anything？
She was lost in all kinds of apprehensions。 At last； however； he
went on
〃We made it up； all the same； and I've come again to propose
another arrangement。〃
This was to renew the bill Bovary had signed。 The doctor； of
course； would do as he pleased； he was not to trouble himself；
especially just now； when he would have a lot of worry。 〃And he
would do better to give it over to someone elseto you； for
example。 With a power of attorney it could be easily managed； and
then we （you and I） would have our little business transactions
together。〃
She did not understand。 He was silent。 Then； passing to his
trade； Lheureux declared that madame must require something。 He
would send her a black barege； twelve yards； just enough to make
a gown。
〃The one you've on is good enough for the house； but you want
another for calls。 I saw that the very moment that I came in。
I've the eye of an American！〃
He did not send the stuff； he brought it。 Then he came again to
measure it； he came again on other pretexts； always trying to
make himself agreeable； useful； 〃enfeoffing himself；〃 as Homais
would have said； and always dropping some hint to Emma about the
power of attorney。 He never mentioned the bill； she did not think
of it。 Charles； at the beginning of her convalescence； had
certainly said something about it to her； but so many emotions
had passed through her head that she no longer remembered it。
Besides； she took care not to talk of any money questions。 Madame
Bovary seemed surprised at this； and attributed the change in her
ways to the religious sentiments she had contracted during her
illness。
But as soon as she was gone； Emma greatly astounded Bovary by her
practical good sense。 It would be necessary to make inquiries； to
look into mortgages； and see if there were any occasion for a
sale by auction or a liquidation。 She quoted technical terms
casually； pronounced the grand words of order； the future；
foresight； and constantly exaggerated the difficulties of
settling his father's affairs so much； that at last one day she
showed him the rough draft of a power of attorney to manage and
administer his business； arrange all loans； sign and endorse all
bills； pay all sums； etc。 She had profited by Lheureux's lessons。
Charles naively asked her where this paper came from。
〃Monsieur Guillaumin〃； and with the utmost coolness she added； 〃I
don't trust him overmuch。 Notaries have such a bad reputation。
Perhaps we ought to consultwe only knowno one。〃
〃Unless Leon〃 replied Charles； who was reflecting。 But it was
difficult to explain matters by letter。 Then she offered to make
the journey； but he thanked her。 She insisted。 It was quite a
contest of mutual consideration。 At last she cried with affected
waywardness
〃No； I will go！〃
〃How good you are！〃 he said； kissing her forehead。
The next morning she set out in the 〃Hirondelle〃 to go to Rouen
to consult Monsieur Leon； and she stayed there three days。
Chapter Three
They were three full； exquisite daysa true honeymoon。 They were
at the Hotel…de…Boulogne； on the harbour； and they lived there；
with drawn blinds and closed doors； with flowers on the floor；
and iced syrups were brought them early in the morning。
Towards evening they took a covered boat and went to dine on one
of the islands。 It was the time when one hears by the side of the
dockyard the caulking…mallets sounding against the hull of
vessels。 The smoke of the tar rose up between the trees； there
were large fatty drops on the water； undulating in the purple
colour of the sun； like floating plaques of Florentine bronze。
They rowed down in the midst of moored boats； whose long oblique
cables grazed lightly against the bottom of the boat。 The din of
the town gradually grew distant； the rolling of carriages； the
tumult of voices； the yelping of dogs on the decks of vessels。
She took off her bonnet； and they landed on their island。
They sat down in the low…ceilinged room of a tavern； at whose
door hung black nets。 They ate fried smelts； cream and cherries。
They lay down upon the grass； they kissed behind the poplars； and
they would fain； like two Robinsons； have lived for ever in this
little place； which seemed to them in their beatitude the most
magnificent on earth。 It was not the first time that they had
seen trees； a blue sky； meadows； that they had heard the water
flowing and the wind blowing in the leaves； but； no doubt； they
had never admired all this； as if Nature had not existed before；
or had only begun to be beautiful since the gratification of
their desires。
At night they returned。 The boat glided along the shores of the
islands。 They sat at the bottom； both hidden by the shade； in
silence。 The square oars rang in the iron thwarts； and； in the
stillness； seemed to mark time； li