madame bovary-第25章
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stop…plank of the gable a bunch of straw mixed with corn…ears
fluttered its tricoloured ribbons in the wind。
Homais was talking。 He explained to the company the future
importance of this establishment； computed the strength of the
floorings； the thickness of the walls； and regretted extremely
not having a yard…stick such as Monsieur Binet possessed for his
own special use。
Emma； who had taken his arm； bent lightly against his shoulder；
and she looked at the sun's disc shedding afar through the mist
his pale splendour。 She turned。 Charles was there。 His cap was
drawn down over his eyebrows； and his two thick lips were
trembling； which added a look of stupidity to his face； his very
back； his calm back； was irritating to behold； and she saw
written upon his coat all the platitude of the bearer。
While she was considering him thus； tasting in her irritation a
sort of depraved pleasure； Leon made a step forward。 The cold
that made him pale seemed to add a more gentle languor to his
face； between his cravat and his neck the somewhat loose collar
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？〃
