madame bovary-第41部分
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the exact measure of his needs； nor of his conceptions； nor of
his sorrows； and since human speech is like a cracked tin kettle；
on which we hammer out tunes to make tears dance when we long to
move the stars。
But with that superior critical judgment that belongs to him who；
in no matter what circumstance； holds back； Rodolphe saw other
delights to be got out of this love。 He thought all modesty in
the way。 He treated her quite sans facon。* He made of her
something supple and corrupt。 Hers was an idiotic sort of
attachment； full of admiration for him； of voluptuousness for
her； a beatitude that benumbed her； her soul sank into this
drunkenness； shrivelled up； drowned in it； like Clarence in his
butt of Malmsey。
*Off…handedly。
By the mere effect of her love Madame Bovary's manners changed。
Her looks grew bolder； her speech more free； she even committed
the impropriety of walking out with Monsieur Rodolphe； a
cigarette in her mouth； 〃as if to defy the people。〃 At last；
those who still doubted doubted no longer when one day they saw
her getting out of the 〃Hirondelle；〃 her waist squeezed into a
waistcoat like a man； and Madame Bovary senior； who； after a
fearful scene with her husband； had taken refuge at her son's；
was not the least scandalised of the women…folk。 Many other
things displeased her。 First； Charles had not attended to her
advice about the forbidding of novels； then the 〃ways of the
house〃 annoyed her； she allowed herself to make some remarks； and
there were quarrels； especially one on account of Felicite。
Madame Bovary senior； the evening before； passing along the
passage； had surprised her in company of a mana man with a
brown collar； about forty years old； who； at the sound of her
step； had quickly escaped through the kitchen。 Then Emma began to
laugh； but the good lady grew angry； declaring that unless morals
were to be laughed at one ought to look after those of one's
servants。
〃Where were you brought up？〃 asked the daughter…in…law； with so
impertinent a look that Madame Bovary asked her if she were not
perhaps defending her own case。
〃Leave the room！〃 said the young woman； springing up with a
bound。
〃Emma！ Mamma！〃 cried Charles； trying to reconcile them。
But both had fled in their exasperation。 Emma was stamping her
feet as she repeated
〃Oh！ what manners！ What a peasant！〃
He ran to his mother； she was beside herself。 She stammered
〃She is an insolent； giddy…headed thing； or perhaps worse！〃
And she was for leaving at once if the other did not apologise。
So Charles went back again to his wife and implored her to give
way； he knelt to her； she ended by saying
〃Very well！ I'll go to her。〃
And in fact she held out her hand to her mother…in…law with the
dignity of a marchioness as she said
〃Excuse me； madame。〃
Then； having gone up again to her room； she threw herself flat on
her bed and cried there like a child； her face buried in the
pillow。
She and Rodolphe had agreed that in the event of anything
extraordinary occurring； she should fasten a small piece of white
paper to the blind； so that if by chance he happened to be in
Yonville； he could hurry to the lane behind the house。 Emma made
the signal； she had been waiting three…quarters of an hour when
she suddenly caught sight of Rodolphe at the corner of the
market。 She felt tempted to open the window and call him； but he
had already disappeared。 She fell back in despair。
Soon； however； it seemed to her that someone was walking on the
pavement。 It was he； no doubt。 She went downstairs； crossed the
yard。 He was there outside。 She threw herself into his arms。
〃Do take care！〃 he said。
〃Ah！ if you knew！〃 she replied。
And she began telling him everything； hurriedly； disjointedly；
exaggerating the facts； inventing many； and so prodigal of
parentheses that he understood nothing of it。
〃Come； my poor angel； courage！ Be comforted！ be patient！〃
〃But I have been patient； I have suffered for four years。 A love
like ours ought to show itself in the face of heaven。 They
torture me！ I can bear it no longer！ Save me！〃
She clung to Rodolphe。 Her eyes； full of tears； flashed like
flames beneath a wave； her breast heaved； he had never loved her
so much； so that he lost his head and said 〃What is； it？ What do
you wish？〃
〃Take me away；〃 she cried； 〃carry me off！ Oh； I pray you！〃
And she threw herself upon his mouth； as if to seize there the
unexpected consent if breathed forth in a kiss。
〃But〃 Rodolphe resumed。
〃What？〃
〃Your little girl！〃
She reflected a few moments； then replied
〃We will take her！ It can't be helped！〃
〃What a woman！〃 he said to himself； watching her as she went。 For
she had run into the garden。 Someone was calling her。
On the following days Madame Bovary senior was much surprised at
the change in her daughter…in…law。 Emma； in fact； was showing
herself more docile； and even carried her deference so far as to
ask for a recipe for pickling gherkins。
Was it the better to deceive them both？ Or did she wish by a sort
of voluptuous stoicism to feel the more profoundly the bitterness
of the things she was about to leave？
But she paid no heed to them； on the contrary； she lived as lost
in the anticipated delight of her coming happiness。
It was an eternal subject for conversation with Rodolphe。 She
leant on his shoulder murmuring
〃Ah！ when we are in the mail…coach！ Do you think about it？ Can it
be？ It seems to me that the moment I feel the carriage start； it
will be as if we were rising in a balloon； as if we were setting
out for the clouds。 Do you know that I count the hours？ And you？〃
Never had Madame Bovary been so beautiful as at this period； she
had that indefinable beauty that results from joy； from
enthusiasm； from success； and that is only the harmony of
temperament with circumstances。 Her desires； her sorrows； the
experience of pleasure； and her ever…young illusions； that had；
as soil and rain and winds and the sun make flowers grow；
gradually developed her； and she at length blossomed forth in all
the plenitude of her nature。 Her eyelids seemed chiselled
expressly for her long amorous looks in which the pupil
disappeared； while a strong inspiration expanded her delicate
nostrils and raised the fleshy corner of her lips； shaded in the
light by a little black down。 One would have thought that an
artist apt in conception had arranged the curls of hair upon her
neck； they fell in a thick mass； negligently； and with the
changing chances of their adultery； that unbound them every day。
Her voice now took more mellow infections； her figure also；
something subtle and penetrating escaped even from the folds of
her gown and from the line of her foot。 Charles； as when they
were first married； thought her delicious and quite irresistible。
When he came home in the middle of the night； he did not dare to
wake her。 The porcelain night…light threw a round trembling gleam
upon the ceiling； and the drawn curtains of the little cot formed
as it were a white hut standing out in the shade； and by the
bedside Charles looked at them。 He seemed to hear the light
breathing of his child。 She would grow big now； every season
would bring rapid progress。 He already saw her coming from school
as the day drew in； laughing； with ink…stains on her jacket； and
carrying her basket on her arm。 Then she would have to be sent to
the boarding…school； that would cost much； how was it to be done？
Then he reflected。 He thought of hiring a small farm in the
neighbourhood； that he would superintend every morning on his way
to his patients。 He would save up what he brought in； he would
put it in the savings…bank。 Then he would buy shares somewhere；
no matter where； besides； his practice would increase； he counted
upon that； for he wanted Berthe to be well…educated； to be
accomplished； to learn to play the piano。 Ah！ how pretty she
would be later on when she was fifteen； when； resembling her
mother； she would； like her； wear large straw hats in the
summer…time； from a distance they would be taken for two sisters。
He pictured her to himself working in the evening by their side
beneath the light of the lamp； she would embroider him slippers；
she would look after the house； she would fill all the home with
her charm and her gaiety。 At last； they would think of her
marriage； they would find her some good young fellow with a
steady business； he would make her happy； this would last for
ever。
Emma was not asleep； she pretended to be； and while he dozed off
by her side she awakened to other dreams。
To the gallop of four horses she was carried away for a week
towards a new land； whence they would return no more。 They went
on and on； their arms entwined； without a word。 Often from the
top of a mountain there suddenly glimpsed some splendid city with
domes； and bridges； and ships； forests of citron trees； and
cathedrals of white marble； on whose pointed steeples were
storks' nests。 They went at a walking…pace because of the great
flag…stones； and on the ground there were bouquets of flowers；
offered you by women dressed in red bodices。 They heard the
chiming of bells； the neighing of mules； toget
