madame bovary-第79章
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seated in a stall of the choir； side by side； they saw pass and
repass in front of them continually the three chanting
choristers。
The serpent…player was blowing with all his might。 Monsieur
Bournisien； in full vestments； was singing in a shrill voice。 He
bowed before the tabernacle； raising his hands； stretched out his
arms。 Lestiboudois went about the church with his whalebone
stick。 The bier stood near the lectern； between four rows of
candles。 Charles felt inclined to get up and put them out。
Yet he tried to stir himself to a feeling of devotion； to throw
himself into the hope of a future life in which he should see her
again。 He imagined to himself she had gone on a long journey； far
away； for along time。 But when he thought of her lying there； and
that all was over； that they would lay her in the earth； he was
seized with a fierce； gloomy； despairful rage。 At times he
thought he felt nothing more； and he enjoyed this lull in his
pain； whilst at the same time he reproached himself for being a
wretch。
The sharp noise of an iron…ferruled stick was heard on the
stones； striking them at irregular intervals。 It came from the
end of the church； and stopped short at the lower aisles。 A man
in a coarse brown jacket knelt down painfully。 It was Hippolyte；
the stable…boy at the 〃Lion d'Or。〃 He had put on his new leg。
One of the choristers went round the nave making a collection；
and the coppers chinked one after the other on the silver plate。
〃Oh； make haste！ I am in pain！〃 cried Bovary； angrily throwing
him a five…franc piece。 The churchman thanked him with a deep bow。
They sang； they knelt； they stood up； it was endless！ He
remembered that once； in the early times； they had been to mass
together； and they had sat down on the other side； on the right；
by the wall。 The bell began again。 There was a great moving of
chairs； the bearers slipped their three staves under the coffin；
and everyone left the church。
Then Justin appeared at the door of the shop。 He suddenly went in
again； pale； staggering。
People were at the windows to see the procession pass。 Charles at
the head walked erect。 He affected a brave air； and saluted with
a nod those who； coming out from the lanes or from their doors；
stood amidst the crowd。
The six men； three on either side； walked slowly； panting a
little。 The priests； the choristers； and the two choirboys
recited the De profundis*； and their voices echoed over the
fields； rising and falling with their undulations。 Sometimes they
disappeared in the windings of the path； but the great silver
cross rose always before the trees。
*Psalm CXXX。
The women followed in black cloaks with turned…down hoods； each
of them carried in her hands a large lighted candle； and Charles
felt himself growing weaker at this continual repetition of
prayers and torches； beneath this oppressive odour of wax and of
cassocks。 A fresh breeze was blowing； the rye and colza were
sprouting； little dewdrops trembled at the roadsides and on the
hawthorn hedges。 All sorts of joyous sounds filled the air； the
jolting of a cart rolling afar off in the ruts； the crowing of a
cock； repeated again and again； or the gambling of a foal running
away under the apple…trees： The pure sky was fretted with rosy
clouds； a bluish haze rested upon the cots covered with iris。
Charles as he passed recognised each courtyard。 He remembered
mornings like this； when； after visiting some patient； he came
out from one and returned to her。
The black cloth bestrewn with white beads blew up from time to
time； laying bare the coffin。 The tired bearers walked more
slowly； and it advanced with constant jerks； like a boat that
pitches with every wave。
They reached the cemetery。 The men went right down to a place in
the grass where a grave was dug。 They ranged themselves all
round； and while the priest spoke； the red soil thrown up at the
sides kept noiselessly slipping down at the corners。
Then when the four ropes were arranged the coffin was placed upon
them。 He watched it descend； it seemed descending for ever。 At
last a thud was heard； the ropes creaked as they were drawn up。
Then Bournisien took the spade handed to him by Lestiboudois；
with his left hand all the time sprinkling water； with the right
he vigorously threw in a large spadeful； and the wood of the
coffin； struck by the pebbles； gave forth that dread sound that
seems to us the reverberation of eternity。
The ecclesiastic passed the holy water sprinkler to his
neighbour。 This was Homais。 He swung it gravely； then handed it
to Charles； who sank to his knees in the earth and threw in
handfuls of it； crying； 〃Adieu！〃 He sent her kisses； he dragged
himself towards the grave； to engulf himself with her。 They led
him away； and he soon grew calmer； feeling perhaps； like the
others； a vague satisfaction that it was all over。
Old Rouault on his way back began quietly smoking a pipe； which
Homais in his innermost conscience thought not quite the thing。
He also noticed that Monsieur Binet had not been present； and
that Tuvache had 〃made off〃 after mass； and that Theodore； the
notary's servant wore a blue coat； 〃as if one could not have got
a black coat； since that is the custom； by Jove！〃 And to share
his observations with others he went from group to group。 They
were deploring Emma's death； especially Lheureux； who had not
failed to come to the funeral。
〃Poor little woman！ What a trouble for her husband！〃
The druggist continued； 〃Do you know that but for me he would
have committed some fatal attempt upon himself？〃
〃Such a good woman！ To think that I saw her only last Saturday in
my shop。〃
〃I haven't had leisure；〃 said Homais； 〃to prepare a few words
that I would have cast upon her tomb。〃
Charles on getting home undressed； and old Rouault put on his
blue blouse。 It was a new one； and as he had often during the
journey wiped his eyes on the sleeves； the dye had stained his
face； and the traces of tears made lines in the layer of dust
that covered it。
Madame Bovary senior was with them。 All three were silent。 At
last the old fellow sighed
〃Do you remember； my friend； that I went to Tostes once when you
had just lost your first deceased？ I consoled you at that time。 I
thought of something to say then； but now〃 Then； with a loud
groan that shook his whole chest； 〃Ah！ this is the end for me； do
you see！ I saw my wife go； then my son； and now to…day it's my
daughter。〃
He wanted to go back at once to Bertaux； saying that he could not
sleep in this house。 He even refused to see his granddaughter。
〃No； no！ It would grieve me too much。 Only you'll kiss her many
times for me。 Good…bye！ you're a good fellow！ And then I shall
never forget that；〃 he said； slapping his thigh。 〃Never fear； you
shall always have your turkey。〃
But when he reached the top of the hill he turned back； as he had
turned once before on the road of Saint…Victor when he had parted
from her。 The windows of the village were all on fire beneath the
slanting rays of the sun sinking behind the field。 He put his
hand over his eyes； and saw in the horizon an enclosure of walls；
where trees here and there formed black clusters between white
stones； then he went on his way at a gentle trot； for his nag had
gone lame。
Despite their fatigue； Charles and his mother stayed very long
that evening talking together。 They spoke of the days of the past
and of the future。 She would come to live at Yonville； she would
keep house for him； they would never part again。 She was
ingenious and caressing； rejoicing in her heart at gaining once
more an affection that had wandered from her for so many years。
Midnight struck。 The village as usual was silent； and Charles；
awake； thought always of her。
Rodolphe； who； to distract himself； had been rambling about the
wood all day； was sleeping quietly in his chateau； and Leon； down
yonder； always slept。
There was another who at that hour was not asleep。
On the grave between the pine…trees a child was on his knees
weeping； and his heart； rent by sobs； was beating in the shadow
beneath the load of an immense regret； sweeter than the moon and
fathomless as the
