madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第27章

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themselves　in　old　memories　of　her　youth　and　school…days。　She
remembered　the　great　candlesticks　that　rose　above　the　vases　full
of　flowers　on　the　altar；　and　the　tabernacle　with　its　small
columns。　She　would　have　liked　to　be　once　more　lost　in　the　long
line　of　white　veils；　marked　off　here　and　there　by　the　stuff　black
hoods　of　the　good　sisters　bending　over　their　prie…Dieu。　At　mass
on　Sundays；　when　she　looked　up；　she　saw　the　gentle　face　of　the
Virgin　amid　the　blue　smoke　of　the　rising　incense。　Then　she　was
moved；　she　felt　herself　weak　and　quite　deserted；　like　the　down　of
a　bird　whirled　by　the　tempest；　and　it　was　unconsciously　that　she
went　towards　the　church；　included　to　no　matter　what　devotions；　so
that　her　soul　was　absorbed　and　all　existence　lost　in　it。
On　the　Place　she　met　Lestivoudois　on　his　way　back；　for；　in　order
not　to　shorten　his　day's　labour；　he　preferred　interrupting　his
work；　then　beginning　it　again；　so　that　he　rang　the　Angelus　to
suit　his　own　convenience。　Besides；　the　ringing　over　a　little
earlier　warned　the　lads　of　catechism　hour。
Already　a　few　who　had　arrived　were　playing　marbles　on　the　stones
of　the　cemetery。　Others；　astride　the　wall；　swung　their　legs；
kicking　with　their　clogs　the　large　nettles　growing　between　the
little　enclosure　and　the　newest　graves。　This　was　the　only　green
spot。　All　the　rest　was　but　stones；　always　covered　with　a　fine
powder；　despite　the　vestry…broom。
The　children　in　list　shoes　ran　about　there　as　if　it　were　an
enclosure　made　for　them。　The　shouts　of　their　voices　could　be
heard　through　the　humming　of　the　bell。　This　grew　less　and　less
with　the　swinging　of　the　great　rope　that；　hanging　from　the　top　of
the　belfry；　dragged　its　end　on　the　ground。　Swallows　flitted　to
and　fro　uttering　little　cries；　cut　the　air　with　the　edge　of　their
wings；　and　swiftly　returned　to　their　yellow　nests　under　the　tiles
of　the　coping。　At　the　end　of　the　church　a　lamp　was　burning；　the
wick　of　a　night…light　in　a　glass　hung　up。　Its　light　from　a
distance　looked　like　a　white　stain　trembling　in　the　oil。　A　long
ray　of　the　sun　fell　across　the　nave　and　seemed　to　darken　the
lower　sides　and　the　corners。
〃Where　is　the　cure？〃　asked　Madame　Bovary　of　one　of　the　lads；　who
was　amusing　himself　by　shaking　a　swivel　in　a　hole　too　large　for
it。
〃He　is　just　coming；〃　he　answered。
And　in　fact　the　door　of　the　presbytery　grated；　Abbe　Bournisien
appeared；　the　children；　pell…mell；　fled　into　the　church。
〃These　young　scamps！〃　murmured　the　priest；　〃always　the　same！〃
Then；　picking　up　a　catechism　all　in　rags　that　he　had　struck　with
is　foot；　〃They　respect　nothing！〃　But　as　soon　as　he　caught　sight
of　Madame　Bovary；　〃Excuse　me；〃　he　said；　〃I　did　not　recognise
you。〃
He　thrust　the　catechism　into　his　pocket；　and　stopped　short；
balancing　the　heavy　vestry　key　between　his　two　fingers。
The　light　of　the　setting　sun　that　fell　full　upon　his　face　paled
the　lasting　of　his　cassock；　shiny　at　the　elbows；　unravelled　at
the　hem。　Grease　and　tobacco　stains　followed　along　his　broad　chest
the　lines　of　the　buttons；　and　grew　more　numerous　the　farther　they
were　from　his　neckcloth；　in　which　the　massive　folds　of　his　red
chin　rested；　this　was　dotted　with　yellow　spots；　that　disappeared
beneath　the　coarse　hair　of　his　greyish　beard。　He　had　just　dined
and　was　breathing　noisily。
〃How　are　you？〃　he　added。
〃Not　well；〃　replied　Emma；　〃I　am　ill。〃
〃Well；　and　so　am　I；〃　answered　the　priest。　〃These　first　warm　days
weaken　one　most　remarkably；　don't　they？　But；　after　all；　we　are
born　to　suffer；　as　St。　Paul　says。　But　what　does　Monsieur　Bovary
think　of　it？〃
〃He！〃　she　said　with　a　gesture　of　contempt。
〃What！〃　replied　the　good　fellow；　quite　astonished；　doesn't　he
prescribe　something　for　you？〃
〃Ah！〃　said　Emma；　〃it　is　no　earthly　remedy　I　need。〃
But　the　cure　from　time　to　time　looked　into　the　church；　where　the
kneeling　boys　were　shouldering　one　another；　and　tumbling　over
like　packs　of　cards。
〃I　should　like　to　know〃　she　went　on。
〃You　look　out；　Riboudet；〃　cried　the　priest　in　an　angry　voice；
〃I'll　warm　your　ears；　you　imp！〃　Then　turning　to　Emma；　〃He's
Boudet　the　carpenter's　son；　his　parents　are　well　off；　and　let　him
do　just　as　he　pleases。　Yet　he　could　learn　quickly　if　he　would；
for　he　is　very　sharp。　And　so　sometimes　for　a　joke　I　call　him
Riboudet　（like　the　road　one　takes　to　go　to　Maromme）　and　I　even
say　'Mon　Riboudet。'　Ha！　Ha！　'Mont　Riboudet。'　The　other　day　I
repeated　that　just　to　Monsignor；　and　he　laughed　at　it；　he
condescended　to　laugh　at　it。　And　how　is　Monsieur　Bovary？〃
She　seemed　not　to　hear　him。　And　he　went　on
〃Always　very　busy；　no　doubt；　for　he　and　I　are　certainly　the
busiest　people　in　the　parish。　But　he　is　doctor　of　the　body；〃　he
added　with　a　thick　laugh；　〃and　I　of　the　soul。〃
She　fixed　her　pleading　eyes　upon　the　priest。　〃Yes；〃　she　said；
〃you　solace　all　sorrows。〃
〃Ah！　don't　talk　to　me　of　it；　Madame　Bovary。　This　morning　I　had　to
go　to　Bas…Diauville　for　a　cow　that　was　ill；　they　thought　it　was
under　a　spell。　All　their　cows；　I　don't　know　how　it　isBut　pardon
me！　Longuemarre　and　Boudet！　Bless　me！　Will　you　leave　off？〃
And　with　a　bound　he　ran　into　the　church。
The　boys　were　just　then　clustering　round　the　large　desk；　climbing
over　the　precentor's　footstool；　opening　the　missal；　and　others　on
tiptoe　were　just　about　to　venture　into　the　confessional。　But　the
priest　suddenly　distributed　a　shower　of　cuffs　among　them。　Seizing
them　by　the　collars　of　their　coats；　he　lifted　them　from　the
ground；　and　deposited　them　on　their　knees　on　the　stones　of　the
choir；　firmly；　as　if　he　meant　planting　them　there。
〃Yes；〃　said　he；　when　he　returned　to　Emma；　unfolding　his　large
cotton　handkerchief；　one　corner　of　which　he　put　between　his
teeth；　〃farmers　are　much　to　be　pitied。〃
〃Others；　too；〃　she　replied。
〃Assuredly。　Town…labourers；　for　example。〃
〃It　is　not　they〃
〃Pardon！　I've　there　known　poor　mothers　of　families；　virtuous
women；　I　assure　you；　real　saints；　who　wanted　even　bread。〃
〃But　those；〃　replied　Emma；　and　the　corners　of　her　mouth　twitched
as　she　spoke；　〃those；　Monsieur　le　Cure；　who　have　bread　and　have
no〃
〃Fire　in　the　winter；〃　said　the　priest。
〃Oh；　what　does　that　matter？〃
〃What！　What　does　it　matter？　It　seems　to　me　that　when　one　has
firing　and　foodfor；　after　all〃
〃My　God！　my　God！〃　she　sighed。
〃It　is　indigestion；　no　doubt？　You　must　get　home；　Madame　Bovary；
drink　a　little　tea；　that　will　strengthen　you；　or　else　a　glass　of
fresh　water　with　a　little　moist　sugar。〃
〃Why？〃　And　she　looked　like　one　awaking　from　a　dream。
〃Well；　you　see；　you　were　putting　your　hand　to　your　forehead。　I
thought　you　felt　faint。〃　Then；　bethinking　himself；　〃But　you　were
asking　me　something？　What　was　it？　I　really　don't　remember。〃
〃I？　Nothing！　nothing！〃　repeated　Emma。
And　the　glance　she　cast　round　her　slowly　fell　upon　the　old　man　in
the　cassock。　They　looked　at　one　another　face　to　face　without
speaking。
〃Then；　Madame　Bovary；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃excuse　me；　but　duty
first；　you　know；　I　must　look　after　my　good…for…nothings。　The
first　communion　will　soon　be　upon　us；　and　I　fear　we　shall　be
behind　after　all。　So　after　Ascension　Day　I　keep　them　recta*　an
extra　hour　every　Wednesday。　Poor　children！　One　cannot　lead　them
too　soon　into　the　path　of　the　Lord；　as；　moreover；　he　has　himself
recommended　us　to　do　by　the　mouth　of　his　Divine　Son。　Good　health
to　you；　madame；　my　respects　to　your　husband。〃
*On　the　straight　and　narrow　path。
And　he　went　into　the　church　making　a　genuflexion　as　soon　as　he
reached　the　door。
Emma　saw　him　disappear　between　the　double　row　of　forms；　walking
with　a　heavy　tread；　his　head　a　little　bent　over　his　shoulder；　and
with　his　two　hands　half…open　behind　him。
Then　she　turned　on　her　heel　all　of　one　piece；　like　a　statue　on　a
pivot；　and　went　homewards。　But　the　loud　voice　of　the　priest；　the
clear　voices　of　the　boys　still　reached　her　ears；　and　went　on
behind　her。
〃Are　you　a　Christian？〃
〃Yes；　I　am　a　Christian。〃
〃What　is　a　Christian？〃
〃He　who；　being　baptized…baptized…baptized〃
She　went　up　the　steps　of　the　staircase　holding　on　to　the
banisters；　and　when　she　was　in　her　room　threw　herself　into　an
arm…chair。
The　whitish　light　of　the　window…panes　fell　with　soft　undulations。
The　furniture　in　its　place　seemed　to　have　become　more　immobile；
and　to　lose　itself　in　the　sha