madame bovary-第13章

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clear　complexion　that　is　heightened　by　the　pallor　of　porcelain；
the　shimmer　of　satin；　the　veneer　of　old　furniture；　and　that　an
ordered　regimen　of　exquisite　nurture　maintains　at　its　best。　Their
necks　moved　easily　in　their　low　cravats；　their　long　whiskers　fell
over　their　turned…down　collars；　they　wiped　their　lips　upon
handkerchiefs　with　embroidered　initials　that　gave　forth　a　subtle
perfume。　Those　who　were　beginning　to　grow　old　had　an　air　of
youth；　while　there　was　something　mature　in　the　faces　of　the
young。　In　their　unconcerned　looks　was　the　calm　of　passions　daily
satiated；　and　through　all　their　gentleness　of　manner　pierced　that
peculiar　brutality；　the　result　of　a　command　of　half…easy　things；
in　which　force　is　exercised　and　vanity　amusedthe　management　of
thoroughbred　horses　and　the　society　of　loose　women。

A　few　steps　from　Emma　a　gentleman　in　a　blue　coat　was　talking　of
Italy　with　a　pale　young　woman　wearing　a　parure　of　pearls。

They　were　praising　the　breadth　of　the　columns　of　St。　Peter's；
Tivoly；　Vesuvius；　Castellamare；　and　Cassines；　the　roses　of　Genoa；
the　Coliseum　by　moonlight。　With　her　other　ear　Emma　was　listening
to　a　conversation　full　of　words　she　did　not　understand。　A　circle
gathered　round　a　very　young　man　who　the　week　before　had　beaten
〃Miss　Arabella〃　and　〃Romolus；〃　and　won　two　thousand　louis　jumping
a　ditch　in　England。　One　complained　that　his　racehorses　were
growing　fat；　another　of　the　printers'　errors　that　had　disfigured
the　name　of　his　horse。

The　atmosphere　of　the　ball　was　heavy；　the　lamps　were　growing　dim。

Guests　were　flocking　to　the　billiard　room。　A　servant　got　upon　a
chair　and　broke　the　window…panes。　At　the　crash　of　the　glass
Madame　Bovary　turned　her　head　and　saw　in　the　garden　the　faces　of
peasants　pressed　against　the　window　looking　in　at　them。　Then　the
memory　of　the　Bertaux　came　back　to　her。　She　saw　the　farm　again；
the　muddy　pond；　her　father　in　a　blouse　under　the　apple　trees；　and
she　saw　herself　again　as　formerly；　skimming　with　her　finger　the
cream　off　the　milk…pans　in　the　dairy。　But　in　the　refulgence　of
the　present　hour　her　past　life；　so　distinct　until　then；　faded
away　completely；　and　she　almost　doubted　having　lived　it。　She　was
there；　beyond　the　ball　was　only　shadow　overspreading　all　the
rest。　She　was　just　eating　a　maraschino　ice　that　she　held　with　her
left　hand　in　a　silver…gilt　cup；　her　eyes　half…closed；　and　the
spoon　between　her　teeth。

A　lady　near　her　dropped　her　fan。　A　gentlemen　was　passing。

〃Would　you　be　so　good；〃　said　the　lady；　〃as　to　pick　up　my　fan　that
has　fallen　behind　the　sofa？〃

The　gentleman　bowed；　and　as　he　moved　to　stretch　out　his　arm；　Emma
saw　the　hand　of　a　young　woman　throw　something　white；　folded　in　a
triangle；　into　his　hat。　The　gentleman；　picking　up　the　fan；
offered　it　to　the　lady　respectfully；　she　thanked　him　with　an
inclination　of　the　head；　and　began　smelling　her　bouquet。

After　supper；　where　were　plenty　of　Spanish　and　Rhine　wines；　soups
a　la　bisque　and　au　lait　d'amandes*；　puddings　a　la　Trafalgar；　and
all　sorts　of　cold　meats　with　jellies　that　trembled　in　the　dishes；
the　carriages　one　after　the　other　began　to　drive　off。　Raising　the
corners　of　the　muslin　curtain；　one　could　see　the　light　of　their
lanterns　glimmering　through　the　darkness。　The　seats　began　to
empty；　some　card…players　were　still　left；　the　musicians　were
cooling　the　tips　of　their　fingers　on　their　tongues。　Charles　was
half　asleep；　his　back　propped　against　a　door。

*With　almond　milk20

At　three　o'clock　the　cotillion　began。　Emma　did　not　know　how　to　waltz。　
Everyone　was　waltzing；　Mademoiselle　d'Andervilliers　herself　and　the　Marquis；
only　the　guests　staying　at　the　castle　were　still　there；　about　a
dozen　persons。

One　of　the　waltzers；　however；　who　was　familiarly　called　Viscount；
and　whose　low　cut　waistcoat　seemed　moulded　to　his　chest；　came　a
second　time　to　ask　Madame　Bovary　to　dance；　assuring　her　that　he
would　guide　her；　and　that　she　would　get　through　it　very　well。

They　began　slowly；　then　went　more　rapidly。　They　turned；　all
around　them　was　turningthe　lamps；　the　furniture；　the
wainscoting；　the　floor；　like　a　disc　on　a　pivot。　On　passing　near
the　doors　the　bottom　of　Emma's　dress　caught　against　his　trousers。

Their　legs　commingled；　he　looked　down　at　her；　she　raised　her　eyes
to　his。　A　torpor　seized　her；　she　stopped。　They　started　again；　and
with　a　more　rapid　movement；　the　Viscount；　dragging　her　along
disappeared　with　her　to　the　end　of　the　gallery；　where　panting；
she　almost　fell；　and　for　a　moment　rested　her　head　upon　his
breast。　And　then；　still　turning；　but　more　slowly；　he　guided　her
back　to　her　seat。　She　leaned　back　against　the　wall　and　covered
her　eyes　with　her　hands。

When　she　opened　them　again；　in　the　middle　of　the　drawing　room
three　waltzers　were　kneeling　before　a　lady　sitting　on　a　stool。

She　chose　the　Viscount；　and　the　violin　struck　up　once　more。

Everyone　looked　at　them。　They　passed　and　re…passed；　she　with
rigid　body；　her　chin　bent　down；　and　he　always　in　the　same　pose；
his　figure　curved；　his　elbow　rounded；　his　chin　thrown　forward。
That　woman　knew　how　to　waltz！　They　kept　up　a　long　time；　and　tired
out　all　the　others。

Then　they　talked　a　few　moments　longer；　and　after　the　goodnights；
or　rather　good　mornings；　the　guests　of　the　chateau　retired　to
bed。

Charles　dragged　himself　up　by　the　balusters。　His　〃knees　were
going　up　into　his　body。〃　He　had　spent　five　consecutive　hours
standing　bolt　upright　at　the　card　tables；　watching　them　play
whist；　without　understanding　anything　about　it；　and　it　was　with　a
deep　sigh　of　relief　that　he　pulled　off　his　boots。

Emma　threw　a　shawl　over　her　shoulders；　opened　the　window；　and
leant　out。

The　night　was　dark；　some　drops　of　rain　were　falling。　She　breathed
in　the　damp　wind　that　refreshed　her　eyelids。　The　music　of　the
ball　was　still　murmuring　in　her　ears。　And　she　tried　to　keep
herself　awake　in　order　to　prolong　the　illusion　that　this
luxurious　life　that　she　would　soon　have　to　give　up。

Day　began　to　break。　She　looked　long　at　the　windows　of　the
chateau；　trying　to　guess　which　were　the　rooms　of　all　those　she
had　noticed　the　evening　before。　She　would　fain　have　known　their
lives；　have　penetrated；　blended　with　them。　But　she　was　shivering
with　cold。　She　undressed；　and　cowered　down　between　the　sheets
against　Charles；　who　was　asleep。

There　were　a　great　many　people　to　luncheon。　The　repast　lasted　ten
minutes；　no　liqueurs　were　served；　which　astonished　the　doctor。

Next；　Mademoiselle　d〃Andervilliers　collected　some　pieces　of　roll
in　a　small　basket　to　take　them　to　the　swans　on　the　ornamental
waters；　and　they　went　to　walk　in　the　hot…houses；　where　strange
plants；　bristling　with　hairs；　rose　in　pyramids　under　hanging
vases；　whence；　as　from　over…filled　nests　of　serpents；　fell　long
green　cords　interlacing。　The　orangery；　which　was　at　the　other
end；　led　by　a　covered　way　to　the　outhouses　of　the　chateau。　The
Marquis；　to　amuse　the　young　woman；　took　her　to　see　the　stables。

Above　the　basket…shaped　racks　porcelain　slabs　bore　the　names　of
the　horses　in　black　letters。　Each　animal　in　its　stall　whisked　its
tail　when　anyone　went　near　and　said　〃Tchk！　tchk！〃　The　boards　of
the　harness　room　shone　like　the　flooring　of　a　drawing　room。　The
carriage　harness　was　piled　up　in　the　middle　against　two　twisted
columns；　and　the　bits；　the　whips；　the　spurs；　the　curbs；　were
ranged　in　a　line　all　along　the　wall。

Charles；　meanwhile；　went　to　ask　a　groom　to　put　his　horse　to。　The
dog…cart　was　brought　to　the　foot　of　the　steps；　and；　all　the
parcels　being　crammed　in；　the　Bovarys　paid　their　respects　to　the
Marquis　and　Marchioness　and　set　out　again　for　Tostes。

Emma　watched　the　turning　wheels　in　silence。　Charles；　on　the
extreme　edge　of　the　seat；　held　the　reins　with　his　two　arms　wide
apart；　and　the　little　horse　ambled　along　in　the　shafts　that　were
too　big　for　him。　The　loose　reins　hanging　over　his　crupper　were
wet　with　foam；　and　the　box　fastened　on　behind　the　chaise　gave
great　regular　bumps　against　it。

They　were　on　the　heights　of　Thibourville　when　suddenly　some
horsemen　with　cigars　between　their　lips　passed　laughing。　Emma
thought　she　recognized　the　Viscount；　turned　back；　and　caught　on
the　horizon　only　the　movement　of　the　heads　ris