madame bovary-第72章
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yielded to that other； when she heard the trot of a horse in the
alley。 It was he； he was opening the gate； he was whiter than the
plaster wall。 Rushing to the stairs； she ran out quickly to the
square； and the wife of the mayor； who was talking to
Lestiboudois in front of the church； saw her go in to the
tax…collector's。
She hurried off to tell Madame Caron； and the two ladies went up
to the attic； and； hidden by some linen spread across props；
stationed themselves comfortably for overlooking the whole of
Binet's room。
He was alone in his garret； busy imitating in wood one of those
indescribable bits of ivory； composed of crescents； of spheres
hollowed out one within the other； the whole as straight as an
obelisk； and of no use whatever； and he was beginning on the last
piecehe was nearing his goal。 In the twilight of the workshop
the white dust was flying from his tools like a shower of sparks
under the hoofs of a galloping horse； the two wheels were
turning； droning； Binet smiled； his chin lowered； his nostrils
distended； and； in a word； seemed lost in one of those complete
happinesses that； no doubt； belong only to commonplace
occupations； which amuse the mind with facile difficulties； and
satisfy by a realisation of that beyond which such minds have not
a dream。
〃Ah！ there she is！〃 exclaimed Madame Tuvache。
But it was impossible because of the lathe to hear what she was
saying。
At last these ladies thought they made out the word 〃francs；〃 and
Madame Tuvache whispered in a low voice
〃She is begging him to give her time for paying her taxes。〃
〃Apparently！〃 replied the other。
They saw her walking up and down； examining the napkin…rings； the
candlesticks； the banister rails against the walls； while Binet
stroked his beard with satisfaction。
〃Do you think she wants to order something of him？〃 said Madame
Tuvache。
〃Why； he doesn't sell anything；〃 objected her neighbour。
The tax…collector seemed to be listening with wide…open eyes； as
if he did not understand。 She went on in a tender； suppliant
manner。 She came nearer to him； her breast heaving； they no
longer spoke。
〃Is she making him advances？〃 said Madame Tuvache。 Binet was
scarlet to his very ears。 She took hold of his hands。
〃Oh； it's too much！〃
And no doubt she was suggesting something abominable to him； for
the tax…collectoryet he was brave； had fought at Bautzen and at
Lutzen； had been through the French campaign； and had even been
recommended for the crosssuddenly； as at the sight of a
serpent； recoiled as far as he could from her； crying
〃Madame！ what do you mean？〃
〃Women like that ought to be whipped；〃 said Madame Tuvache。
〃But where is she？〃 continued Madame Caron； for she had
disappeared whilst they spoke； then catching sight of her going
up the Grande Rue； and turning to the right as if making for the
cemetery； they were lost in conjectures。
〃Nurse Rollet；〃 she said on reaching the nurse's； 〃I am choking；
unlace me！〃 She fell on the bed sobbing。 Nurse Rollet covered her
with a petticoat and remained standing by her side。 Then； as she
did not answer； the good woman withdrew； took her wheel and began
spinning flax。
〃Oh； leave off！〃 she murmured； fancying she heard Binet's lathe。
〃What's bothering her？〃 said the nurse to herself。 〃Why has she
come here？〃
She had rushed thither； impelled by a kind of horror that drove
her from her home。
Lying on her back； motionless； and with staring eyes； she saw
things but vaguely； although she tried to with idiotic
persistence。 She looked at the scales on the walls； two brands
smoking end to end； and a long spider crawling over her head in a
rent in the beam。 At last she began to collect her thoughts。 She
rememberedone dayLeonOh！ how long ago that wasthe sun was
shining on the river； and the clematis were perfuming the air。
Then； carried away as by a rushing torrent； she soon began to
recall the day before。
〃What time is it？〃 she asked。
Mere Rollet went out； raised the fingers of her right hand to
that side of the sky that was brightest； and came back slowly；
saying
〃Nearly three。〃
〃Ahl thanks； thanks！〃
For he would come； he would have found some money。 But he would；
perhaps； go down yonder； not guessing she was here； and she told
the nurse to run to her house to fetch him。
〃Be quick！〃
〃But； my dear lady； I'm going； I'm going！〃
She wondered now that she had not thought of him from the first。
Yesterday he had given his word； he would not break it。 And she
already saw herself at Lheureux's spreading out her three
bank…notes on his bureau。 Then she would have to invent some
story to explain matters to Bovary。 What should it be？
The nurse； however； was a long while gone。 But； as there was no
clock in the cot； Emma feared she was perhaps exaggerating the
length of time。 She began walking round the garden； step by step；
she went into the path by the hedge； and returned quickly； hoping
that the woman would have come back by another road。 At last；
weary of waiting； assailed by fears that she thrust from her； no
longer conscious whether she had been here a century or a moment；
she sat down in a corner； closed her eyes； and stopped her ears。
The gate grated； she sprang up。 Before she had spoken Mere Rollet
said to her
〃There is no one at your house！〃
〃What？〃
〃Oh； no one！ And the doctor is crying。 He is calling for you；
they're looking for you。〃
Emma answered nothing。 She gasped as she turned her eyes about
her； while the peasant woman； frightened at her face； drew back
instinctively； thinking her mad。 Suddenly she struck her brow and
uttered a cry； for the thought of Rodolphe； like a flash of
lightning in a dark night； had passed into her soul。 He was so
good； so delicate； so generous！ And besides； should he hesitate
to do her this service； she would know well enough how to
constrain him to it by re…waking； in a single moment； their lost
love。 So she set out towards La Huchette； not seeing that she was
hastening to offer herself to that which but a while ago had so
angered her； not in the least conscious of her prostitution。
Chapter Eight
She asked herself as she walked along； 〃What am I going to say？
How shall I begin？〃 And as she went on she recognised the
thickets； the trees； the sea…rushes on the hill； the chateau
yonder。 All the sensations of her first tenderness came back to
her； and her poor aching heart opened out amorously。 A warm wind
blew in her face； the melting snow fell drop by drop from the
buds to the grass。
She entered； as she used to； through the small park…gate。 She
reached the avenue bordered by a double row of dense lime…trees。
They were swaying their long whispering branches to and fro。 The
dogs in their kennels all barked； and the noise of their voices
resounded； but brought out no one。
She went up the large straight staircase with wooden balusters
that led to the corridor paved with dusty flags； into which
several doors in a row opened； as in a monastery or an inn。 His
was at the top； right at the end； on the left。 When she placed
her fingers on the lock her strength suddenly deserted her。 She
was afraid； almost wished he would not be there； though this was
her only hope； her last chance of salvation。 She collected her
thoughts for one moment； and； strengthening herself by the
feeling of present necessity； went in。
He was in front of the fire； both his feet on the mantelpiece；
smoking a pipe。
〃What！ it is you！〃 he said； getting up hurriedly。
〃Yes； it is I； Rodolphe。 I should like to ask your advice。〃
And； despite all her efforts； it was impossible for her to
open her lips。
〃You have not changed； you are charming as ever！〃
〃Oh；〃 she replied bitterly； 〃they are poor charms since you
disdained them。〃
Then he began a long explanation of his conduct； excusing himself
in vague terms； in default of being able to invent better。
She yielded to his words； still more to his voice and the sight
of him； so that； she pretended to believe； or perhaps believed；
in the pretext he gave for their rupture； this was a secret on
which depended the honour； the very life of a third person。
〃No matter！〃 s
