madame bovary-第39章
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the same stones to the grass； nothing around them seemed changed；
and yet for her something had happened more stupendous than if
the mountains had moved in their places。 Rodolphe now and again
bent forward and took her hand to kiss it。
She was charming on horsebackupright； with her slender waist；
her knee bent on the mane of her horse； her face somewhat flushed
by the fresh air in the red of the evening。
On entering Yonville she made her horse prance in the road。
People looked at her from the windows。
At dinner her husband thought she looked well； but she pretended
not to hear him when he inquired about her ride； and she remained
sitting there with her elbow at the side of her plate between the
two lighted candles。
〃Emma！〃 he said。
〃What？〃
〃Well； I spent the afternoon at Monsieur Alexandre's。 He has an
old cob； still very fine； only a little brokenkneed； and that
could be bought； I am sure； for a hundred crowns。〃 He added； 〃And
thinking it might please you； I have bespoken itbought it。 Have
I done right？ Do tell me？〃
She nodded her head in assent； then a quarter of an hour later
〃Are you going out to…night？〃 she asked。
〃Yes。 Why？〃
〃Oh； nothing； nothing； my dear！〃
And as soon as she had got rid of Charles she went and shut
herself up in her room。
At first she felt stunned； she saw the trees； the paths； the
ditches； Rodolphe； and she again felt the pressure of his arm；
while the leaves rustled and the reeds whistled。
But when she saw herself in the glass she wondered at her face。
Never had her eyes been so large； so black； of so profound a
depth。 Something subtle about her being transfigured her。 She
repeated； 〃I have a lover！ a lover！〃 delighting at the idea as if
a second puberty had come to her。 So at last she was to know
those joys of love； that fever of happiness of which she had
despairedl She was entering upon marvels where all would be
passion； ecstasy； delirium。 An azure infinity encompassed her；
the heights of sentiment sparkled under her thought； and ordinary
existence appeared only afar off； down below in the shade；
through the interspaces of these heights。
Then she recalled the heroines of the books that she had read；
and the lyric legion of these adulterous women began to sing in
her memory with the voice of sisters that charmed her。 She became
herself； as it were； an actual part of these imaginings； and
realised the love…dream of her youth as she saw herself in this
type of amorous women whom she had so envied。 Besides； Emma felt
a satisfaction of revenge。 Had she not suffered enough？ But now
she triumphed； and the love so long pent up burst forth in full
joyous bubblings。 She tasted it without remorse； without anxiety；
without trouble。
The day following passed with a new sweetness。 They made vows to
one another She told him of her sorrows。 Rodolphe interrupted her
with kisses； and she looking at him through half…closed eyes；
asked him to call her again by her nameto say that he loved her
They were in the forest； as yesterday； in the shed of some
woodenshoe maker。 The walls were of straw； and the roof so low
they had to stoop。 They were seated side by side on a bed of dry
leaves。
》From that day forth they wrote to one another regularly every
evening。 Emma placed her letter at the end of the garden； by the
river； in a fissure of the wall。 Rodolphe came to fetch it； and
put another there； that she always found fault with as too
short。
One morning； when Charles had gone out before day break； she was
seized with the fancy to see Rodolphe at once。 She would go
quickly to La Huchette； stay there an hour； and be back again at
Yonville while everyone was still asleep。 This idea made her pant
with desire； and she soon found herself in the middle of the
field； walking with rapid steps； without looking behind her。
Day was just breaking。 Emma from afar recognised her lover's
house。 Its two dove…tailed weathercocks stood out black against
the pale dawn。
Beyond the farmyard there was a detached building that she
thought must be the chateau She enteredit was if the doors at
her approach had opened wide of their own accord。 A large
straight staircase led up to the corridor。 Emma raised the latch
of a door； and suddenly at the end of the room she saw a man
sleeping。 It was Rodolphe。 She uttered a cry。
〃You here？ You here？〃 he repeated。 〃How did you manage to come？
Ah！ your dress is damp。〃
〃I love you；〃 she answered； throwing her arms about his neck。
This first piece of daring successful； now every time Charles
went out early Emma dressed quickly and slipped on tiptoe down
the steps that led to the waterside。
But when the plank for the cows was taken up； she had to go by
the walls alongside of the river； the bank was slippery； in order
not to fall she caught hold of the tufts of faded wallflowers。
Then she went across ploughed fields； in which she sank；
stumbling； and clogging her thin shoes。 Her scarf； knotted round
her head； fluttered to the wind in the meadows。 She was afraid of
the oxen； she began to run； she arrived out of breath； with rosy
cheeks； and breathing out from her whole person a fresh perfume
of sap； of verdure； of the open air。 At this hour Rodolphe still
slept。 It was like a spring morning coming into his room。
The yellow curtains along the windows let a heavy； whitish light
enter softly。 Emma felt about； opening and closing her eyes；
while the drops of dew hanging from her hair formed； as it were；
a topaz aureole around her face。 Rodolphe； laughing； drew her to
him； and pressed her to his breast。
Then she examined the apartment； opened the drawers of the
tables； combed her hair with his comb； and looked at herself in
his shaving…glass。 Often she even put between her teeth the big
pipe that lay on the table by the bed； amongst lemons and pieces
of sugar near a bottle of water。
It took them a good quarter of an hour to say goodbye。 Then Emma
cried。 She would have wished never to leave Rodolphe。 Something
stronger than herself forced her to him； so much so； that one
day； seeing her come unexpectedly； he frowned as one put out。
〃What is the matter with you？〃 she said。 〃Are you ill？ Tell me！〃
At last he declared with a serious air that her visits were
becoming imprudentthat she was compromising herself。
Chapter Ten
Gradually Rodolphe's fears took possession of her。 At first； love
had intoxicated her； and she had thought of nothing beyond。 But
now that he was indispensable to her life； she feared to lose
anything of this； or even that it should be disturbed。 When she
came back from his house she looked all about her； anxiously
watching every form that passed in the horizon； and every village
window from which she could be seen。 She listened for steps；
cries； the noise of the ploughs； and she stopped short； white；
and trembling more than the aspen leaves swaying overhead。
One morning as she was thus returning； she suddenly thought she
saw the long barrel of a carbine that seemed to be aimed at her。
It stuck out sideways from the end of a small tub half…buried in
the grass on the edge of a ditch。 Emma； half…fainting with
terror； nevertheless walked on； and a man stepped out of the tub
like a Jack…in…the…box。 He had gaiters buckled up to the knees；
his cap pulled down over his eyes； trembling lips； and a red
nose。 It was Captain Binet lying in ambush for wild ducks。
〃You ought to have called out long ago！〃 he exclaimed； 〃When one
sees a gun； one should always give warning。〃
The tax…collector was thus trying to hide the fright he had had；
for a prefectorial order having prohibited duckhunting except in
boats； Monsieur Binet； despite his respect for the laws； was
infringing them； and so he every moment expected to see the rural
guard turn up。 But this anxiety whetted his pleasure； and； all
alone in his tub； he congratulated himself on his luck and on his
cuteness。 At sight of Emma he seemed relieved from a great
weight； and at once entered upon a conversation。
〃It isn't warm； it's nipping。〃
Emma answered nothing。 He went on
〃And you're out so early？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said stammering； 〃I am just coming from the nurse
wher
