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Old Rouault was rich； and she！so beautiful！ But Emma's face
always rose before his eyes； and a monotone； like the humming of
a top； sounded in his ears； 〃If you should marry after all！ If
you should marry！〃 At night he could not sleep； his throat was
parched； he was athirst。 He got up to drink from the water…bottle
and opened the window。 The night was covered with stars； a warm
wind blowing in the distance； the dogs were barking。 He turned
his head towards the Bertaux。
Thinking that； after all； he should lose nothing； Charles
promised himself to ask her in marriage as soon as occasion
offered； but each time such occasion did offer the fear of not
finding the right words sealed his lips。
Old Rouault would not have been sorry to be rid of his daughter；
who was of no use to him in the house。 In his heart he excused
her； thinking her too clever for farming； a calling under the ban
of Heaven； since one never saw a millionaire in it。 Far from
having made a fortune by it； the good man was losing every year；
for if he was good in bargaining； in which he enjoyed the dodges
of the trade； on the other hand； agriculture properly so called；
and the internal management of the farm； suited him less than
most people。 He did not willingly take his hands out of his
pockets； and did not spare expense in all that concerned himself；
liking to eat well； to have good fires； and to sleep well。 He
liked old cider； underdone legs of mutton； glorias* well beaten
up。 He took his meals in the kitchen alone； opposite the fire； on
a little table brought to him all ready laid as on the stage。
*A mixture of coffee and spirits。
When； therefore； he perceived that Charles's cheeks grew red if
near his daughter； which meant that he would propose for her one
of these days； he chewed the cud of the matter beforehand。 He
certainly thought him a little meagre； and not quite the
son…in…law he would have liked； but he was said to be well
brought…up； economical； very learned； and no doubt would not make
too many difficulties about the dowry。 Now； as old Rouault would
soon be forced to sell twenty…two acres of 〃his property；〃
as he owed a good deal to the mason； to the harness…maker； and as
the shaft of the cider…press wanted renewing； 〃If he asks for
her；〃 he said to himself； 〃I'll give her to him。〃
At Michaelmas Charles went to spend three days at the Bertaux。
The last had passed like the others in procrastinating from hour
to hour。 Old Rouault was seeing him off； they were walking along
the road full of ruts； they were about to part。 This was the
time。 Charles gave himself as far as to the corner of the hedge；
and at last； when past it
〃Monsieur Rouault；〃 he murmured； 〃I should like to say something
to you。〃
They stopped。 Charles was silent。
〃Well； tell me your story。 Don't I know all about it？〃 said old
Rouault； laughing softly。
〃Monsieur RouaultMonsieur Rouault；〃 stammered Charles。
〃I ask nothing better〃； the farmer went on。 〃Although； no doubt；
the little one is of my mind； still we must ask her opinion。 So
you get offI'll go back home。 If it is 〃yes〃； you needn't
return because of all the people about； and besides it would
upset her too much。 But so that you mayn't be eating your heart；
I'll open wide the outer shutter of the window against the wall；
you can see it from the back by leaning over the hedge。〃
And he went off。
Charles fastened his horse to a tree； he ran into the road and
waited。 Half an hour passed； then he counted nineteen minutes by
his watch。 Suddenly a noise was heard against the wall； the
shutter had been thrown back； the hook was still swinging。
The next day by nine o'clock he was at the farm。 Emma blushed as
he entered； and she gave a little forced laugh to keep herself in
countenance。 Old Rouault embraced his future son…in…law。 The
discussion of money matters was put off； moreover； there was
plenty of time before them； as the marriage could not decently
take place till Charles was out of mourning； that is to say；
about the spring of the next year。
The winter passed waiting for this。 Mademoiselle Rouault was busy
with her trousseau。 Part of it was ordered at Rouen； and she made
herself chemises and nightcaps after fashion…plates that she
borrowed。 When Charles visited the farmer； the preparations for
the wedding were talked over； they wondered in what room they
should have dinner； they dreamed of the number of dishes that
would be wanted； and what should be entrees。
Emma would； on the contrary； have preferred to have a midnight
wedding with torches； but old Rouault could not understand such
an idea。 So there was a wedding at which forty…three persons were
present； at which they remained sixteen hours at table； began
again the next day； and to some extent on the days following。
Chapter Four
The guests arrived early in carriages； in one…horse chaises；
two…wheeled cars； old open gigs； waggonettes with leather hoods；
and the young people from the nearer villages in carts； in which
they stood up in rows； holding on to the sides so as not to fall；
going at a trot and well shaken up。 Some came from a distance of
thirty miles； from Goderville； from Normanville； and from Cany。
All the relatives of both families had been invited； quarrels
between friends arranged； acquaintances long since lost sight of
written to。
》From time to time one heard the crack of a whip behind the hedge；
then the gates opened； a chaise entered。 Galloping up to the foot
of the steps； it stopped short and emptied its load。 They got
down from all sides； rubbing knees and stretching arms。 The
ladies； wearing bonnets； had on dresses in the town fashion； gold
watch chains； pelerines with the ends tucked into belts； or
little coloured fichus fastened down behind with a pin； and that
left the back of the neck bare。 The lads； dressed like their
papas； seemed uncomfortable in their new clothes （many that day
hand…sewed their first pair of boots）； and by their sides；
speaking never a work； wearing the white dress of their first
communion lengthened for the occasion were some big girls of
fourteen or sixteen； cousins or elder sisters no doubt； rubicund；
bewildered； their hair greasy with rose pomade； and very much
afraid of dirtying their gloves。 As there were not enough
stable…boys to unharness all the carriages； the gentlemen turned
up their sleeves and set about it themselves。 According to their
different social positions they wore tail…coats； overcoats；
shooting jackets； cutaway…coats； fine tail…coats； redolent of
family respectability； that only came out of the wardrobe on
state occasions； overcoats with long tails flapping in the wind
and round capes and pockets like sacks； shooting jackets of
coarse cloth； generally worn with a cap with a brass…bound peak；
very short cutaway…coats with two small buttons in the back；
close together like a pair of eyes； and the tails of which seemed
cut out of one piece by a carpenter's hatchet。 Some； too （but
these； you may be sure； would sit at the bottom of the table）；
wore their best blousesthat is to say； with collars turned down
to the shoulders； the back gathered into small plaits and the
waist fastened very low down with a work