madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第23部分

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Leon　out；　since　he　went　to　town　almost　every　week。
Why？　Monsieur　Homais　suspected　some　〃young　man's　affair〃　at　the
bottom　of　it；　an　intrigue。　But　he　was　mistaken。　Leon　was　after　no
love…making。　He　was　sadder　than　ever；　as　Madame　Lefrancois　saw
from　the　amount　of　food　he　left　on　his　plate。　To　find　out　more
about　it　she　questioned　the　tax…collector。　Binet　answered　roughly
that　he　〃wasn't　paid　by　the　police。〃
All　the　same；　his　companion　seemed　very　strange　to　him；　for　Leon
often　threw　himself　back　in　his　chair；　and　stretching　out　his
arms。　Complained　vaguely　of　life。
〃It's　because　you　don't　take　enough　recreation；〃　said　the
collector。
〃What　recreation？〃
〃If　I　were　you　I'd　have　a　lathe。〃
〃But　I　don't　know　how　to　turn；〃　answered　the　clerk。
〃Ah！　that's　true；〃　said　the　other；　rubbing　his　chin　with　an　air
of　mingled　contempt　and　satisfaction。
Leon　was　weary　of　loving　without　any　result；　moreover　he　was
beginning　to　feel　that　depression　caused　by　the　repetition　of　the
same　kind　of　life；　when　no　interest　inspires　and　no　hope　sustains
it。　He　was　so　bored　with　Yonville　and　its　inhabitants；　that　the
sight　of　certain　persons；　of　certain　houses；　irritated　him　beyond
endurance；　and　the　chemist；　good　fellow　though　he　was；　was
becoming　absolutely　unbearable　to　him。　Yet　the　prospect　of　a　new
condition　of　life　frightened　as　much　as　it　seduced　him。
This　apprehension　soon　changed　into　impatience；　and　then　Paris
from　afar　sounded　its　fanfare　of　masked　balls　with　the　laugh　of
grisettes。　As　he　was　to　finish　reading　there；　why　not　set　out　at
once？　What　prevented　him？　And　he　began　making　home…preparations；
he　arranged　his　occupations　beforehand。　He　furnished　in　his　head
an　apartment。　He　would　lead　an　artist's　life　there！　He　would　take
lessons　on　the　guitar！　He　would　have　a　dressing…gown；　a　Basque
cap；　blue　velvet　slippers！　He　even　already　was　admiring　two
crossed　foils　over　his　chimney…piece；　with　a　death's　head　on　the
guitar　above　them。
The　difficulty　was　the　consent　of　his　mother；　nothing；　however；
seemed　more　reasonable。　Even　his　employer　advised　him　to　go　to
some　other　chambers　where　he　could　advance　more　rapidly。　Taking　a
middle　course；　then；　Leon　looked　for　some　place　as　second　clerk
at　Rouen；　found　none；　and　at　last　wrote　his　mother　a　long　letter
full　of　details；　in　which　he　set　forth　the　reasons　for　going　to
live　at　Paris　immediately。　She　consented。
He　did　not　hurry。　Every　day　for　a　month　Hivert　carried　boxes；
valises；　parcels　for　him　from　Yonville　to　Rouen　and　from　Rouen　to
Yonville；　and　when　Leon　had　packed　up　his　wardrobe；　had　his　three
arm…chairs　restuffed；　bought　a　stock　of　neckties；　in　a　word；　had
made　more　preparations　than　for　a　voyage　around　the　world；　he　put
it　off　from　week　to　week；　until　he　received　a　second　letter　from
his　mother　urging　him　to　leave；　since　he　wanted　to　pass　his
examination　before　the　vacation。
When　the　moment　for　the　farewells　had　come；　Madame　Homais　wept；
Justin　sobbed；　Homais；　as　a　man　of　nerve；　concealed　his　emotion；
he　wished　to　carry　his　friend's　overcoat　himself　as　far　as　the
gate　of　the　notary；　who　was　taking　Leon　to　Rouen　in　his　carriage。
The　latter　had　just　time　to　bid　farewell　to　Monsieur　Bovary。
When　he　reached　the　head　of　the　stairs；　he　stopped；　he　was　so　out
of　breath。　As　he　came　in；　Madame　Bovary　arose　hurriedly。
〃It　is　I　again！〃　said　Leon。
〃I　was　sure　of　it！〃
She　bit　her　lips；　and　a　rush　of　blood　flowing　under　her　skin　made
her　red　from　the　roots　of　her　hair　to　the　top　of　her　collar。　She
remained　standing；　leaning　　with　her　shoulder　against　the
wainscot。
〃The　doctor　is　not　here？〃　he　went　on。
〃He　is　out。〃　She　repeated；　〃He　is　out。〃
Then　there　was　silence。　They　looked　at　one　another　and　their
thoughts；　confounded　in　the　same　agony；　clung　close　together　like
two　throbbing　breasts。
〃I　should　like　to　kiss　Berthe；〃　said　Leon。
Emma　went　down　a　few　steps　and　called　Felicite。
He　threw　one　long　look　around　him　that　took　in　the　walls；　the
decorations；　the　fireplace；　as　if　to　penetrate　everything；　carry
away　everything。　But　she　returned；　and　the　servant　brought
Berthe；　who　was　swinging　a　windmill　roof　downwards　at　the　end　of
a　string。　Leon　kissed　her　several　times　on　the　neck。
〃Good…bye；　poor　child！　good…bye；　dear　little　one！　good…bye！〃　And
he　gave　her　back　to　her　mother。
〃Take　her　away；〃　she　said。
They　remained　aloneMadame　Bovary；　her　back　turned；　her　face
pressed　against　a　window…pane；　Leon　held　his　cap　in　his　hand；
knocking　it　softly　against　his　thigh。
〃It　is　going　to　rain；〃　said　Emma。
〃I　have　a　cloak；〃　he　answered。
〃Ah！〃
She　turned　around；　her　chin　lowered；　her　forehead　bent　forward。
The　light　fell　on　it　as　on　a　piece　of　marble；　to　the　curve　of　the
eyebrows；　without　one's　being　able　to　guess　what　Emma　was　seeing
on　the　horizon　or　what　she　was　thinking　within　herself。
〃Well；　good…bye；〃　he　sighed。
She　raised　her　head　with　a　quick　movement。
〃Yes；　good…byego！〃
They　advanced　towards　each　other；　he　held　out　his　hand；　she
hesitated。
〃In　the　English　fashion；　then；〃　she　said；　giving　her　own　hand
wholly　to　him；　and　forcing　a　laugh。
Leon　felt　it　between　his　fingers；　and　the　very　essence　of　all　his
being　seemed　to　pass　down　into　that　moist　palm。　Then　he　opened
his　hand；　their　eyes　met　again；　and　he　disappeared。
When　he　reached　the　market…place；　he　stopped　and　hid　behind　a
pillar　to　look　for　the　last　time　at　this　white　house　with　the
four　green　blinds。　He　thought　he　saw　a　shadow　behind　the　window
in　the　room；　but　the　curtain；　sliding　along　the　pole　as　though　no
one　were　touching　it；　slowly　opened　its　long　oblique　folds　that
spread　out　with　a　single　movement；　and　thus　hung　straight　and
motionless　as　a　plaster　wall。　Leon　set　off　running。
》From　afar　he　saw　his　employer's　gig　in　the　road；　and　by　it　a　man
in　a　coarse　apron　holding　the　horse。　Homais　and　Monsieur
Guillaumin　were　talking。　They　were　waiting　for　him。
〃Embrace　me；〃　said　the　druggist　with　tears　in　his　eyes。　〃Here　is
your　coat；　my　good　friend。　Mind　the　cold；　take　care　of　yourself；
look　after　yourself。〃
〃Come；　Leon；　jump　in；〃　said　the　notary。
Homais　bend　over　the　splash…board；　and　in　a　voice　broken　by　sobs
uttered　these　three　sad　words
〃A　pleasant　journey！〃
〃Good…night；〃　said　Monsieur　Guillaumin。　〃Give　him　his　head。〃　They
set　out；　and　Homais　went　back。
Madame　Bovary　had　opened　her　window　overlooking　the　garden　and
watched　the　clouds。　They　gathered　around　the　sunset　on　the　side
of　Rouen　and　then　swiftly　rolled　back　their　black　columns；　behind
which　the　great　rays　of　the　sun　looked　out　like　the　golden　arrows
of　a　suspended　trophy；　while　the　rest　of　the　empty　heavens　was
white　as　porcelain。　But　a　gust　of　wind　bowed　the　poplars；　and
suddenly　the　rain　fell；　it　pattered　against　the　green　leaves。
Then　the　sun　reappeared；　the　hens　clucked；　sparrows　shook　their
wings　in　the　damp　thickets；　and　the　pools　of　water　on　the　gravel
as　they　flowed　away　carried　off　the　pink　flowers　of　an　acacia。
〃Ah！　how　far　off　he　must　be　already！〃　she　thought。
Monsieur　Homais；　as　usual；　came　at　half…past　six　during　dinner。
〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃so　we've　sent　off　our　young　friend！〃
〃So　it　seems；〃　replied　the　doctor。　Then　turning　on　his　chair；
〃Any　news　at　home？〃
〃Nothing　much。　Only　my　wife　was　a　little　moved　this　afternoon。
You　know　womena　nothing　upsets　them；　especially　my　wife。　And　we
should　be　wrong　to　object　to　that；　since　their　nervous
organization　is　much　more　malleable　than　ours。〃
〃Poor　Leon！〃　said　Charles。　〃How　will　he　live　at　Paris？　Will　he
get　used　to　it？〃
Madame　Bovary　sighed。
〃Get　along！〃　said　the　chemist；　smacking　his　lips。　〃The　outings　at
restaurants；　the　masked　balls；　the　champagneall　that'll　be
jolly　enough；　I　assure　you。〃
〃I　don't　think　he'll　go　wrong；〃　objected　Bovary。
〃Nor　do　I；〃　said　Monsieur　Homais　quickly；　〃although　he'll　have　to
do　like　the　rest　for　fear　of　passing　for　a　Jesuit。　And　you　don't
know　what　a　life　those　dogs　lead　in　the　Latin　quarter　with
actresses。　Besides；　students　are　thought　a　great　deal　of　in
Paris。　Provided　they　have　a　few　accomplishments；　they　are
received　in　the　best　society；　there　are　even　ladies　of　the
Faubourg　Saint…Germain　who　fall　in　love　with　them；　which
subsequently　furnishes　them　opportunities　for　making　very　good
matches。〃
〃But；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃I　fear　for　him　that　down　there〃
〃You　are　right；〃　interrupted　the　chemist；　〃that　is　the　reverse　of
the　medal。　And　one　is　constantly　obliged　to　keep　one's　hand　in
one's　pocket　there。　Thus；　we　will　suppose　you　are　in　a　public
garden。　An　individual　presents　himself；　well　dressed；　even
wearing　an　order；　and　whom　one　would　take　for　a　diplomatist。　He
approaches　you；　he　insinuates　himself；　offers　you　a　pinch　of
snuff；　or　picks　up　your　hat。　Then　you　become　more　intimate；　he
takes　you　to　a　cafe；　invites　you　to　his　country…house；　introduces
you；　between　two　drinks；　to　all　sorts　of　people；　and
three…fourths　of　the　time　it's　only　to　plunder　your　watch　or　lead
you　into　some　pernicious　step。
〃That　is　true；〃　said　Charles；　〃but　I　was　thinking　especially　of
illnessesof　typhoid　fever；　for　example；　that　attacks　students
from　the　provinces。〃
Emma　shuddered。
〃Because　of　the　change　of　regimen；〃　continued　the　chemist；　〃and
of　the　perturbation　that　results　therefrom　in　the　whole　system。
And　then　the　water　at　Paris；　don't　you　know！　The　dishes　at
restaurants；　all　the　spiced　food；　end　by　heating　the　blood；　and
are　not　worth；　whatever　people　may　say　of　them；　a　good　soup。　For
my　own　part；　I　have　always　preferred　plain　living；　it　is　more
healthy。　So　when　I　was　studying　pharmacy　at　Rouen；　I　boarded　in　a
boarding　house；　I　dined　with　the　professors。〃
And　thus　he　went　on；　expounding　his　opinions　generally　and　his
personal　likings；　until　Justin　came　to　fetch　him　for　a　mulled　egg
that　was　wanted。
〃Not　a　moment's　peace！〃　he　cried；　〃always　at　it！　I　can't　go　out
for　a　minute！　Like　a　plough…horse；　I　have　always　to　be　moiling
and　toiling。　What　drudgery！〃　Then；　when　he　was　at　the　door；　〃By
the　way；　do　you　know　the　news？〃
〃What　news？〃
〃That　it　is　very　likely；〃　Homais　went　on；　raising　his　eyebrows
and　assuming　one　of　his　most　serious　expression；　〃that　the
agricultural　meeting　of　the　Seine…Inferieure　will　be　held　this
year　at　Yonville…l'Abbaye。　The　rumour；　at　all　events；　is　going
the　roun