madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第22部分

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ray　of　the　sun　fell　across　the　nave　and　seemed　to　darken　the
lower　sides　and　the　corners。
〃Where　is　the　cure？〃　asked　Madame　Bovary　of　one　of　the　lads；　who
was　amusing　himself　by　shaking　a　swivel　in　a　hole　too　large　for
it。
〃He　is　just　coming；〃　he　answered。
And　in　fact　the　door　of　the　presbytery　grated；　Abbe　Bournisien
appeared；　the　children；　pell…mell；　fled　into　the　church。
〃These　young　scamps！〃　murmured　the　priest；　〃always　the　same！〃
Then；　picking　up　a　catechism　all　in　rags　that　he　had　struck　with
is　foot；　〃They　respect　nothing！〃　But　as　soon　as　he　caught　sight
of　Madame　Bovary；　〃Excuse　me；〃　he　said；　〃I　did　not　recognise
you。〃
He　thrust　the　catechism　into　his　pocket；　and　stopped　short；
balancing　the　heavy　vestry　key　between　his　two　fingers。
The　light　of　the　setting　sun　that　fell　full　upon　his　face　paled
the　lasting　of　his　cassock；　shiny　at　the　elbows；　unravelled　at
the　hem。　Grease　and　tobacco　stains　followed　along　his　broad　chest
the　lines　of　the　buttons；　and　grew　more　numerous　the　farther　they
were　from　his　neckcloth；　in　which　the　massive　folds　of　his　red
chin　rested；　this　was　dotted　with　yellow　spots；　that　disappeared
beneath　the　coarse　hair　of　his　greyish　beard。　He　had　just　dined
and　was　breathing　noisily。
〃How　are　you？〃　he　added。
〃Not　well；〃　replied　Emma；　〃I　am　ill。〃
〃Well；　and　so　am　I；〃　answered　the　priest。　〃These　first　warm　days
weaken　one　most　remarkably；　don't　they？　But；　after　all；　we　are
born　to　suffer；　as　St。　Paul　says。　But　what　does　Monsieur　Bovary
think　of　it？〃
〃He！〃　she　said　with　a　gesture　of　contempt。
〃What！〃　replied　the　good　fellow；　quite　astonished；　doesn't　he
prescribe　something　for　you？〃
〃Ah！〃　said　Emma；　〃it　is　no　earthly　remedy　I　need。〃
But　the　cure　from　time　to　time　looked　into　the　church；　where　the
kneeling　boys　were　shouldering　one　another；　and　tumbling　over
like　packs　of　cards。
〃I　should　like　to　know〃　she　went　on。
〃You　look　out；　Riboudet；〃　cried　the　priest　in　an　angry　voice；
〃I'll　warm　your　ears；　you　imp！〃　Then　turning　to　Emma；　〃He's
Boudet　the　carpenter's　son；　his　parents　are　well　off；　and　let　him
do　just　as　he　pleases。　Yet　he　could　learn　quickly　if　he　would；
for　he　is　very　sharp。　And　so　sometimes　for　a　joke　I　call　him
Riboudet　（like　the　road　one　takes　to　go　to　Maromme）　and　I　even
say　'Mon　Riboudet。'　Ha！　Ha！　'Mont　Riboudet。'　The　other　day　I
repeated　that　just　to　Monsignor；　and　he　laughed　at　it；　he
condescended　to　laugh　at　it。　And　how　is　Monsieur　Bovary？〃
She　seemed　not　to　hear　him。　And　he　went　on
〃Always　very　busy；　no　doubt；　for　he　and　I　are　certainly　the
busiest　people　in　the　parish。　But　he　is　doctor　of　the　body；〃　he
added　with　a　thick　laugh；　〃and　I　of　the　soul。〃
She　fixed　her　pleading　eyes　upon　the　priest。　〃Yes；〃　she　said；
〃you　solace　all　sorrows。〃
〃Ah！　don't　talk　to　me　of　it；　Madame　Bovary。　This　morning　I　had　to
go　to　Bas…Diauville　for　a　cow　that　was　ill；　they　thought　it　was
under　a　spell。　All　their　cows；　I　don't　know　how　it　isBut　pardon
me！　Longuemarre　and　Boudet！　Bless　me！　Will　you　leave　off？〃
And　with　a　bound　he　ran　into　the　church。
The　boys　were　just　then　clustering　round　the　large　desk；　climbing
over　the　precentor's　footstool；　opening　the　missal；　and　others　on
tiptoe　were　just　about　to　venture　into　the　confessional。　But　the
priest　suddenly　distributed　a　shower　of　cuffs　among　them。　Seizing
them　by　the　collars　of　their　coats；　he　lifted　them　from　the
ground；　and　deposited　them　on　their　knees　on　the　stones　of　the
choir；　firmly；　as　if　he　meant　planting　them　there。
〃Yes；〃　said　he；　when　he　returned　to　Emma；　unfolding　his　large
cotton　handkerchief；　one　corner　of　which　he　put　between　his
teeth；　〃farmers　are　much　to　be　pitied。〃
〃Others；　too；〃　she　replied。
〃Assuredly。　Town…labourers；　for　example。〃
〃It　is　not　they〃
〃Pardon！　I've　there　known　poor　mothers　of　families；　virtuous
women；　I　assure　you；　real　saints；　who　wanted　even　bread。〃
〃But　those；〃　replied　Emma；　and　the　corners　of　her　mouth　twitched
as　she　spoke；　〃those；　Monsieur　le　Cure；　who　have　bread　and　have
no〃
〃Fire　in　the　winter；〃　said　the　priest。
〃Oh；　what　does　that　matter？〃
〃What！　What　does　it　matter？　It　seems　to　me　that　when　one　has
firing　and　foodfor；　after　all〃
〃My　God！　my　God！〃　she　sighed。
〃It　is　indigestion；　no　doubt？　You　must　get　home；　Madame　Bovary；
drink　a　little　tea；　that　will　strengthen　you；　or　else　a　glass　of
fresh　water　with　a　little　moist　sugar。〃
〃Why？〃　And　she　looked　like　one　awaking　from　a　dream。
〃Well；　you　see；　you　were　putting　your　hand　to　your　forehead。　I
thought　you　felt　faint。〃　Then；　bethinking　himself；　〃But　you　were
asking　me　something？　What　was　it？　I　really　don't　remember。〃
〃I？　Nothing！　nothing！〃　repeated　Emma。
And　the　glance　she　cast　round　her　slowly　fell　upon　the　old　man　in
the　cassock。　They　looked　at　one　another　face　to　face　without
speaking。
〃Then；　Madame　Bovary；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃excuse　me；　but　duty
first；　you　know；　I　must　look　after　my　good…for…nothings。　The
first　communion　will　soon　be　upon　us；　and　I　fear　we　shall　be
behind　after　all。　So　after　Ascension　Day　I　keep　them　recta*　an
extra　hour　every　Wednesday。　Poor　children！　One　cannot　lead　them
too　soon　into　the　path　of　the　Lord；　as；　moreover；　he　has　himself
recommended　us　to　do　by　the　mouth　of　his　Divine　Son。　Good　health
to　you；　madame；　my　respects　to　your　husband。〃
*On　the　straight　and　narrow　path。
And　he　went　into　the　church　making　a　genuflexion　as　soon　as　he
reached　the　door。
Emma　saw　him　disappear　between　the　double　row　of　forms；　walking
with　a　heavy　tread；　his　head　a　little　bent　over　his　shoulder；　and
with　his　two　hands　half…open　behind　him。
Then　she　turned　on　her　heel　all　of　one　piece；　like　a　statue　on　a
pivot；　and　went　homewards。　But　the　loud　voice　of　the　priest；　the
clear　voices　of　the　boys　still　reached　her　ears；　and　went　on
behind　her。
〃Are　you　a　Christian？〃
〃Yes；　I　am　a　Christian。〃
〃What　is　a　Christian？〃
〃He　who；　being　baptized…baptized…baptized〃
She　went　up　the　steps　of　the　staircase　holding　on　to　the
banisters；　and　when　she　was　in　her　room　threw　herself　into　an
arm…chair。
The　whitish　light　of　the　window…panes　fell　with　soft　undulations。
The　furniture　in　its　place　seemed　to　have　become　more　immobile；
and　to　lose　itself　in　the　shadow　as　in　an　ocean　of　darkness。　The
fire　was　out；　the　clock　went　on　ticking；　and　Emma　vaguely
marvelled　at　this　calm　of　all　things　while　within　herself　was
such　tumult。　But　little　Berthe　was　there；　between　the　window　and
the　work…table；　tottering　on　her　knitted　shoes；　and　trying　to
come　to　her　mother　to　catch　hold　of　the　ends　of　her
apron…strings。
〃Leave　me　alone；〃　said　the　latter；　putting　her　from　her　with　her
hand。
The　little　girl　soon　came　up　closer　against　her　knees；　and
leaning　on　them　with　her　arms；　she　looked　up　with　her　large　blue
eyes；　while　a　small　thread　of　pure　saliva　dribbled　from　her　lips
on　to　the　silk　apron。
〃Leave　me　alone；〃　repeated　the　young　woman　quite　irritably。
Her　face　frightened　the　child；　who　began　to　scream。
〃Will　you　leave　me　alone？〃　she　said；　pushing　her　with　her　elbow。
Berthe　fell　at　the　foot　of　the　drawers　against　the　brass　handle；
cutting　her　cheek；　which　began　to　bleed；　against　it。　Madame
Bovary　sprang　to　lift　her　up；　broke　the　bell…rope；　called　for　the
servant　with　all　her　might；　and　she　was　just　going　to　curse
herself　when　Charles　appeared。　It　was　the　dinner…hour；　he　had
come　home。
〃Look；　dear！〃　said　Emma；　in　a　calm　voice；　〃the　little　one　fell
down　while　she　was　playing；　and　has　hurt　herself。〃
Charles　reassured　her；　the　case　was　not　a　serious　one；　and　he
went　for　some　sticking　plaster。
Madame　Bovary　did　not　go　downstairs　to　the　dining…room；　she
wished　to　remain　alone　to　look　after　the　child。　Then　watching　her
sleep；　the　little　anxiety　she　felt　gradually　wore　off；　and　she
seemed　very　stupid　to　herself；　and　very　good　to　have　been　so
worried　just　now　at　so　little。　Berthe；　in　fact；　no　longer　sobbed。
Her　breathing　now　imperceptibly　raised　the　cotton　covering。　Big
tears　lay　in　the　corner　of　the　half…closed　eyelids；　through　whose
lashes　one　could　see　two　pale　sunken　pupils；　the　plaster　stuck　on
her　cheek　drew　the　skin　obliquely。
〃It　is　very　strange；〃　thought　Emma；　〃how　ugly　this　child　is！〃
When　at　eleven　o'clock　Charles　came　back　from　the　chemist's　shop；
whither　he　had　gone　after　dinner　to　return　the　remainder　of　the
sticking…plaster；　he　found　his　wife　standing　by　the　cradle。
〃I　assure　you　it's　nothing。〃　he　said；　kissing　her　on　the
forehead。　〃Don't　worry；　my　poor　darling；　you　will　make　yourself
ill。〃
He　had　stayed　a　long　time　at　the　chemist's。　Although　he　had　not
seemed　much　moved；　Homais；　nevertheless；　had　exerted　himself　to
buoy　him　up；　to　〃keep　up　his　spirits。〃　Then　they　had　talked　of
the　various　dangers　that　threaten　childhood；　of　the　carelessness
of　servants。　Madame　Homais　knew　something　of　it；　having　still
upon　her　chest　the　marks　left　by　a　basin　full　of　soup　that　a　cook
had　formerly　dropped　on　her　pinafore；　and　her　good　parents　took
no　end　of　trouble　for　her。　The　knives　were　not　sharpened；　nor　the
floors　waxed；　there　were　iron　gratings　to　the　windows　and　strong
bars　across　the　fireplace；　the　little　Homais；　in　spite　of　their
spirit；　could　not　stir　without　someone　watching　them；　at　the
slightest　cold　their　father　stuffed　them　with　pectorals；　and
until　they　were　turned　four　they　all；　without　pity；　had　to　wear
wadded　head…protectors。　This；　it　is　true；　was　a　fancy　of　Madame
Homais'；　her　husband　was　inwardly　afflicted　at　it。　Fearing　the
possible　consequences　of　such　compression　to　the　intellectual
organs。　He　even　went　so　far　as　to　say　to　her；　〃Do　you　want　to
make　Caribs　or　Botocudos　of　them？〃
Charles；　however；　had　several　times　tried　to　interrupt　the
conversation。　〃I　should　like　to　speak　to　you；〃　he　had　whispered
in　the　clerk's　ear；　who　went　upstairs　in　front　of　him。
〃Can　he　suspect　anything？〃　Leon　asked　himself。　His　heart　beat；
and　he　racked　his　brain　with　surmises。
At　last；　Charles；　having　shut　the　door；　asked　him　to　see　himself
what　would　be　the　price　at　Rouen　of　a　fine　daguerreotypes。　It　was
a　sentimental　surprise　he　intended　for　his　wife；　a　delicate
attentionhis　portrait　in　a　frock…coat。　But　he　wanted　first　to
know　〃how　much　it　would　be。〃　The　inquiries　would　not　put　Monsieur
Leon　out；　since　he　went　to　town　almost　every　week。
Why？　Monsie