madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第25章

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of　his　shirt　showed　the　skin；　the　lobe　of　his　ear　looked　out　from
beneath　a　lock　of　hair；　and　his　large　blue　eyes；　raised　to　the
clouds；　seemed　to　Emma　more　limpid　and　more　beautiful　than　those
mountain…lakes　where　the　heavens　are　mirrored。
〃Wretched　boy！〃　suddenly　cried　the　chemist。
And　he　ran　to　his　son；　who　had　just　precipitated　himself　into　a
heap　of　lime　in　order　to　whiten　his　boots。　At　the　reproaches　with
which　he　was　being　overwhelmed　Napoleon　began　to　roar；　while
Justin　dried　his　shoes　with　a　wisp　of　straw。　But　a　knife　was
wanted；　Charles　offered　his。
〃Ah！〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃he　carried　a　knife　in　his　pocket　like
a　peasant。〃
The　hoar…frost　was　falling；　and　they　turned　back　to　Yonville。
In　the　evening　Madame　Bovary　did　not　go　to　her　neighbour's；　and
when　Charles　had　left　and　she　felt　herself　alone；　the　comparison
re…began　with　the　clearness　of　a　sensation　almost　actual；　and
with　that　lengthening　of　perspective　which　memory　gives　to
things。　Looking　from　her　bed　at　the　clean　fire　that　was　burning；
she　still　saw；　as　she　had　down　there；　Leon　standing　up　with　one
hand　behind　his　cane；　and　with　the　other　holding　Athalie；　who　was
quietly　sucking　a　piece　of　ice。　She　thought　him　charming；　she
could　not　tear　herself　away　from　him；　she　recalled　his　other
attitudes　on　other　days；　the　words　he　had　spoken；　the　sound　of
his　voice；　his　whole　person；　and　she　repeated；　pouting　out　her
lips　as　if　for　a　kiss
〃Yes；　charming！　charming！　Is　he　not　in　love？〃　she　asked　herself；
〃but　with　whom？　With　me？〃
All　the　proofs　arose　before　her　at　once；　her　heart　leapt。　The
flame　of　the　fire　threw　a　joyous　light　upon　the　ceiling；　she
turned　on　her　back；　stretching　out　her　arms。
Then　began　the　eternal　lamentation：　〃Oh；　if　Heaven　had　out　willed
it！　And　why　not？　What　prevented　it？〃
When　Charles　came　home　at　midnight；　she　seemed　to　have　just
awakened；　and　as　he　made　a　noise　undressing；　she　complained　of　a
headache；　then　asked　carelessly　what　had　happened　that　evening。
〃Monsieur　Leon；〃　he　said；　〃went　to　his　room　early。〃
She　could　not　help　smiling；　and　she　fell　asleep；　her　soul　filled
with　a　new　delight。
The　next　day；　at　dusk；　she　received　a　visit　from　Monsieur
Lherueux；　the　draper。　He　was　a　man　of　ability；　was　this
shopkeeper。　Born　a　Gascon　but　bred　a　Norman；　he　grafted　upon　his
southern　volubility　the　cunning　of　the　Cauchois。　His　fat；　flabby；
beardless　face　seemed　dyed　by　a　decoction　of　liquorice；　and　his
white　hair　made　even　more　vivid　the　keen　brilliance　of　his　small
black　eyes。　No　one　knew　what　he　had　been　formerly；　a　pedlar　said
some；　a　banker　at　Routot　according　to　others。　What　was　certain
was　that　he　made　complex　calculations　in　his　head　that　would　have
frightened　Binet　himself。　Polite　to　obsequiousness；　he　always
held　himself　with　his　back　bent　in　the　position　of　one　who　bows
or　who　invites。
After　leaving　at　the　door　his　hat　surrounded　with　crape；　he　put
down　a　green　bandbox　on　the　table；　and　began　by　complaining　to
madame；　with　many　civilities；　that　he　should　have　remained　till
that　day　without　gaining　her　confidence。　A　poor　shop　like　his　was
not　made　to　attract　a　〃fashionable　lady〃；　he　emphasized　the
words；　yet　she　had　only　to　command；　and　he　would　undertake　to
provide　her　with　anything　she　might　wish；　either　in　haberdashery
or　linen；　millinery　or　fancy　goods；　for　he　went　to　town　regularly
four　times　a　month。　He　was　connected　with　the　best　houses。　You
could　speak　of　him　at　the　〃Trois　Freres；〃　at　the　〃Barbe　d'Or；〃　or
at　the　〃Grand　Sauvage〃；　all　these　gentlemen　knew　him　as　well　as
the　insides　of　their　pockets。　To…day；　then　he　had　come　to　show
madame；　in　passing；　various　articles　he　happened　to　have；　thanks
to　the　most　rare　opportunity。　And　he　pulled　out　half…a…dozen
embroidered　collars　from　the　box。
Madame　Bovary　examined　them。　〃I　do　not　require　anything；〃　she
said。
Then　Monsieur　Lheureux　delicately　exhibited　three　Algerian
scarves；　several　packet　of　English　needles；　a　pair　of　straw
slippers；　and　finally；　four　eggcups　in　cocoanut　wood；　carved　in
open　work　by　convicts。　Then；　with　both　hands　on　the　table；　his
neck　stretched　out；　his　figure　bent　forward；　open…mouthed；　he
watched　Emma's　look；　who　was　walking　up　and　down　undecided　amid
these　goods。　From　time　to　time；　as　if　to　remove　some　dust；　he
filliped　with　his　nail　the　silk　of　the　scarves　spread　out　at　full
length；　and　they　rustled　with　a　little　noise；　making　in　the　green
twilight　the　gold　spangles　of　their　tissue　scintillate　like
little　stars。
〃How　much　are　they？〃
〃A　mere　nothing；〃　he　replied；　〃a　mere　nothing。　But　there's　no
hurry；　whenever　it's　convenient。　We　are　not　Jews。〃
She　reflected　for　a　few　moments；　and　ended　by　again　declining
Monsieur　Lheureux's　offer。　He　replied　quite　unconcernedly
〃Very　well。　We　shall　understand　one　another　by　and　by。　I　have
always　got　on　with　ladiesif　I　didn't　with　my　own！〃
Emma　smiled。
〃I　wanted　to　tell　you；〃　he　went　on　good…naturedly；　after　his
joke；　〃that　it　isn't　the　money　I　should　trouble　about。　Why；　I
could　give　you　some；　if　need　be。〃
She　made　a　gesture　of　surprise。
〃Ah！〃　said　he　quickly　and　in　a　low　voice；　〃I　shouldn't　have　to　go
far　to　find　you　some；　rely　on　that。〃
And　he　began　asking　after　Pere　Tellier；　the　proprietor　of　the
〃Cafe　Francais；〃　whom　Monsieur　Bovary　was　then　attending。
〃What's　the　matter　with　Pere　Tellier？　He　coughs　so　that　he　shakes
his　whole　house；　and　I'm　afraid　he'll　soon　want　a　deal　covering
rather　than　a　flannel　vest。　He　was　such　a　rake　as　a　young　man！
Those　sort　of　people；　madame；　have　not　the　least　regularity；　he's
burnt　up　with　brandy。　Still　it's　sad；　all　the　same；　to　see　an
acquaintance　go　off。〃
And　while　he　fastened　up　his　box　he　discoursed　about　the　doctor's
patients。
〃It's　the　weather；　no　doubt；〃　he　said；　looking　frowningly　at　the
floor；　〃that　causes　these　illnesses。　I；　too；　don't　feel　the
thing。　One　of　these　days　I　shall　even　have　to　consult　the　doctor
for　a　pain　I　have　in　my　back。　Well；　good…bye；　Madame　Bovary。　At
your　service；　your　very　humble　servant。〃　And　he　closed　the　door
gently。
Emma　had　her　dinner　served　in　her　bedroom　on　a　tray　by　the
fireside；　she　was　a　long　time　over　it；　everything　was　well　with
her。
〃How　good　I　was！〃　she　said　to　herself；　thinking　of　the　scarves。
She　heard　some　steps　on　the　stairs。　It　was　Leon。　She　got　up　and
took　from　the　chest　of　drawers　the　first　pile　of　dusters　to　be
hemmed。　When　he　came　in　she　seemed　very　busy。
The　conversation　languished；　Madame　Bovary　gave　it　up　every　few
minutes；　whilst　he　himself　seemed　quite　embarrassed。　Seated　on　a
low　chair　near　the　fire；　he　turned　round　in　his　fingers　the　ivory
thimble…case。　She　stitched　on；　or　from　time　to　time　turned　down
the　hem　of　the　cloth　with　her　nail。　She　did　not　speak；　he　was
silent；　captivated　by　her　silence；　as　he　would　have　been　by　her
speech。
〃Poor　fellow！〃　she　thought。
〃How　have　I　displeased　her？〃　he　asked　himself。
At　last；　however；　Leon　said　that　he　should　have；　one　of　these
days；　to　go　to　Rouen　on　some　office　business。
〃Your　music　subscription　is　out；　am　I　to　renew　it？〃
〃No；〃　she　replied。
〃Why？〃
〃Because〃
And　pursing　her　lips　she　slowly　drew　a　long　stitch　of　grey
thread。
This　work　irritated　Leon。　It　seemed　to　roughen　the　ends　of　her
fingers。　A　gallant　phrase　came　into　his　head；　but　he　did　not　risk
it。
〃Then　you　are　giving　it　up？〃　he　went　on。
〃What？〃　she　asked　hurriedly。　〃Music？　Ah！　yes！　Have　I　not　my　house
to　look　after；　my　husband　to　attend　to；　a　thousand　things；　in
fact；　many　duties　that　must　be　considered　first？〃
She　looked　at　the　clock。　Charles　was　late。　Then；　she　affected
anxiety。　Two　or　three　times　she　even　repeated；　〃He　is　so　good！〃
The　clerk　was　fond　of　Monsieur　Bovary。　But　this　tenderness　on　his
behalf　astonished　him　unpleasantly；　nevertheless　he　took　up　on
his　praises；　which　he　said　everyone　was　singing；　especially　the
chemist。
〃Ah！　he　is　a　good　fellow；〃　continued　Emma。
〃Certainly；〃　replied　the　clerk。
And　he　began　talking　of　Madame　Homais；　whose　very　untidy
appearance　generally　made　them　laugh。
〃What　does　it　matter？〃　interrupted　Emma。　〃A　good　housewife　does
not　trouble　about　her　appearance。〃
Then　she　relapsed　into　silence。
It　was　the　same　on　the　following　days；　her　talks；　her　manners；
everythi