madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第31部分

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pedestal；　in　a　place　lofty；　secure；　immaculate。　But　I　need　you　to
live！　I　must　have　your　eyes；　your　voice；　your　thought！　Be　my
friend；　my　sister；　my　angel！〃
And　he　put　out　his　arm　round　her　waist。　She　feebly　tried　to
disengage　herself。　He　supported　her　thus　as　they　walked　along。
But　they　heard　the　two　horses　browsing　on　the　leaves。
〃Oh！　one　moment！〃　said　Rodolphe。　〃Do　not　let　us　go！　Stay！〃
He　drew　her　farther　on　to　a　small　pool　where　duckweeds　made　a
greenness　on　the　water。　Faded　water　lilies　lay　motionless　between
the　reeds。　At　the　noise　of　their　steps　in　the　grass；　frogs　jumped
away　to　hide　themselves。
〃I　am　wrong！　I　am　wrong！〃　she　said。　〃I　am　mad　to　listen　to　you！〃
〃Why？　Emma！　Emma！〃
〃Oh；　Rodolphe！〃　said　the　young　woman　slowly；　leaning　on　his
shoulder。
The　cloth　of　her　habit　caught　against　the　velvet　of　his　coat。　She
threw　back　her　white　neck；　swelling　with　a　sigh；　and　faltering；
in　tears；　with　a　long　shudder　and　hiding　her　face；　she　gave
herself　up　to　him
The　shades　of　night　were　falling；　the　horizontal　sun　passing
between　the　branches　dazzled　the　eyes。　Here　and　there　around　her；
in　the　leaves　or　on　the　ground；　trembled　luminous　patches；　as　it
hummingbirds　flying　about　had　scattered　their　feathers。　Silence
was　everywhere；　something　sweet　seemed　to　come　forth　from　the
trees；　she　felt　her　heart；　whose　beating　had　begun　again；　and　the
blood　coursing　through　her　flesh　like　a　stream　of　milk。　Then　far
away；　beyond　the　wood；　on　the　other　hills；　she　heard　a　vague
prolonged　cry；　a　voice　which　lingered；　and　in　silence　she　heard
it　mingling　like　music　with　the　last　pulsations　of　her　throbbing
nerves。　Rodolphe；　a　cigar　between　his　lips；　was　mending　with　his
penknife　one　of　the　two　broken　bridles。
They　returned　to　Yonville　by　the　same　road。　On　the　mud　they　saw
again　the　traces　of　their　horses　side　by　side；　the　same　thickets；
the　same　stones　to　the　grass；　nothing　around　them　seemed　changed；
and　yet　for　her　something　had　happened　more　stupendous　than　if
the　mountains　had　moved　in　their　places。　Rodolphe　now　and　again
bent　forward　and　took　her　hand　to　kiss　it。
She　was　charming　on　horsebackupright；　with　her　slender　waist；
her　knee　bent　on　the　mane　of　her　horse；　her　face　somewhat　flushed
by　the　fresh　air　in　the　red　of　the　evening。
On　entering　Yonville　she　made　her　horse　prance　in　the　road。
People　looked　at　her　from　the　windows。
At　dinner　her　husband　thought　she　looked　well；　but　she　pretended
not　to　hear　him　when　he　inquired　about　her　ride；　and　she　remained
sitting　there　with　her　elbow　at　the　side　of　her　plate　between　the
two　lighted　candles。
〃Emma！〃　he　said。
〃What？〃
〃Well；　I　spent　the　afternoon　at　Monsieur　Alexandre's。　He　has　an
old　cob；　still　very　fine；　only　a　little　brokenkneed；　and　that
could　be　bought；　I　am　sure；　for　a　hundred　crowns。〃　He　added；　〃And
thinking　it　might　please　you；　I　have　bespoken　itbought　it。　Have
I　done　right？　Do　tell　me？〃
She　nodded　her　head　in　assent；　then　a　quarter　of　an　hour　later
〃Are　you　going　out　to…night？〃　she　asked。
〃Yes。　Why？〃
〃Oh；　nothing；　nothing；　my　dear！〃
And　as　soon　as　she　had　got　rid　of　Charles　she　went　and　shut
herself　up　in　her　room。
At　first　she　felt　stunned；　she　saw　the　trees；　the　paths；　the
ditches；　Rodolphe；　and　she　again　felt　the　pressure　of　his　arm；
while　the　leaves　rustled　and　the　reeds　whistled。
But　when　she　saw　herself　in　the　glass　she　wondered　at　her　face。
Never　had　her　eyes　been　so　large；　so　black；　of　so　profound　a
depth。　Something　subtle　about　her　being　transfigured　her。　She
repeated；　〃I　have　a　lover！　a　lover！〃　delighting　at　the　idea　as　if
a　second　puberty　had　come　to　her。　So　at　last　she　was　to　know
those　joys　of　love；　that　fever　of　happiness　of　which　she　had
despairedl　She　was　entering　upon　marvels　where　all　would　be
passion；　ecstasy；　delirium。　An　azure　infinity　encompassed　her；
the　heights　of　sentiment　sparkled　under　her　thought；　and　ordinary
existence　appeared　only　afar　off；　down　below　in　the　shade；
through　the　interspaces　of　these　heights。
Then　she　recalled　the　heroines　of　the　books　that　she　had　read；
and　the　lyric　legion　of　these　adulterous　women　began　to　sing　in
her　memory　with　the　voice　of　sisters　that　charmed　her。　She　became
herself；　as　it　were；　an　actual　part　of　these　imaginings；　and
realised　the　love…dream　of　her　youth　as　she　saw　herself　in　this
type　of　amorous　women　whom　she　had　so　envied。　Besides；　Emma　felt
a　satisfaction　of　revenge。　Had　she　not　suffered　enough？　But　now
she　triumphed；　and　the　love　so　long　pent　up　burst　forth　in　full
joyous　bubblings。　She　tasted　it　without　remorse；　without　anxiety；
without　trouble。
The　day　following　passed　with　a　new　sweetness。　They　made　vows　to
one　another　She　told　him　of　her　sorrows。　Rodolphe　interrupted　her
with　kisses；　and　she　looking　at　him　through　half…closed　eyes；
asked　him　to　call　her　again　by　her　nameto　say　that　he　loved　her
They　were　in　the　forest；　as　yesterday；　in　the　shed　of　some
woodenshoe　maker。　The　walls　were　of　straw；　and　the　roof　so　low
they　had　to　stoop。　They　were　seated　side　by　side　on　a　bed　of　dry
leaves。
》From　that　day　forth　they　wrote　to　one　another　regularly　every
evening。　Emma　placed　her　letter　at　the　end　of　the　garden；　by　the
river；　in　a　fissure　of　the　wall。　Rodolphe　came　to　fetch　it；　and
put　another　there；　that　she　always　found　fault　with　as　too
short。
One　morning；　when　Charles　had　gone　out　before　day　break；　she　was
seized　with　the　fancy　to　see　Rodolphe　at　once。　She　would　go
quickly　to　La　Huchette；　stay　there　an　hour；　and　be　back　again　at
Yonville　while　everyone　was　still　asleep。　This　idea　made　her　pant
with　desire；　and　she　soon　found　herself　in　the　middle　of　the
field；　walking　with　rapid　steps；　without　looking　behind　her。
Day　was　just　breaking。　Emma　from　afar　recognised　her　lover's
house。　Its　two　dove…tailed　weathercocks　stood　out　black　against
the　pale　dawn。
Beyond　the　farmyard　there　was　a　detached　building　that　she
thought　must　be　the　chateau　She　enteredit　was　if　the　doors　at
her　approach　had　opened　wide　of　their　own　accord。　A　large
straight　staircase　led　up　to　the　corridor。　Emma　raised　the　latch
of　a　door；　and　suddenly　at　the　end　of　the　room　she　saw　a　man
sleeping。　It　was　Rodolphe。　She　uttered　a　cry。
〃You　here？　You　here？〃　he　repeated。　〃How　did　you　manage　to　come？
Ah！　your　dress　is　damp。〃
〃I　love　you；〃　she　answered；　throwing　her　arms　about　his　neck。
This　first　piece　of　daring　successful；　now　every　time　Charles
went　out　early　Emma　dressed　quickly　and　slipped　on　tiptoe　down
the　steps　that　led　to　the　waterside。
But　when　the　plank　for　the　cows　was　taken　up；　she　had　to　go　by
the　walls　alongside　of　the　river；　the　bank　was　slippery；　in　order
not　to　fall　she　caught　hold　of　the　tufts　of　faded　wallflowers。
Then　she　went　across　ploughed　fields；　in　which　she　sank；
stumbling；　and　clogging　her　thin　shoes。　Her　scarf；　knotted　round
her　head；　fluttered　to　the　wind　in　the　meadows。　She　was　afraid　of
the　oxen；　she　began　to　run；　she　arrived　out　of　breath；　with　rosy
cheeks；　and　breathing　out　from　her　whole　person　a　fresh　perfume
of　sap；　of　verdure；　of　the　open　air。　At　this　hour　Rodolphe　still
slept。　It　was　like　a　spring　morning　coming　into　his　room。
The　yellow　curtains　along　the　windows　let　a　heavy；　whitish　light
enter　softly。　Emma　felt　about；　opening　and　closing　her　eyes；
while　the　drops　of　dew　hanging　from　her　hair　formed；　as　it　were；
a　topaz　aureole　around　her　face。　Rodolphe；　laughing；　drew　her　to
him；　and　pressed　her　to　his　breast。
Then　she　examined　the　apartment；　opened　the　drawers　of　the
tables；　combed　her　hair　with　his　comb；　and　looked　at　herself　in
his　shaving…glass。　Often　she　even　put　between　her　teeth　the　big
pipe　that　lay　on　the　table　by　the　bed；　amongst　lemons　and　pieces
of　sugar　near　a　bottle　of　water。
It　took　them　a　good　quarter　of　an　hour　to　say　goodbye。　Then　Emma
cried。　She　would　have　wished　never　to　leave　Rodolphe。　Something
stronger　than　herself　forced　her　to　him；　so　much　so；　that　one
day；　seeing　her　come　unexpectedly；　he　frowned　as　one　put　out。
〃What　is　the　matter　with　you？〃　she　said。　〃Are　you　ill？　Tell　me！〃
At　last　he　declared　with　a　serious　air　that　her　visits　were
becoming　imprudentthat　she　was　compromising　herself。

Chapter　Ten
Gradually　Rodolphe's　fears　took　possession　of　her。　At　first；　love
had　intoxicated　her；　and　she　had　thought　of　nothing　beyond。　But
now　that　he　was　indispensable　to　her　life；　she　feared　to　lose
anything　of　this；　or　even　that　it　should　be　disturbed。　When　she
came　back　from　his　house　she　looked　all　about　her；　anxiously
watching　every　form　that　passed　in　the　horizon；　and　every　village
window　from　which　she　could　be　seen。　She　listened　for　steps；
cries；　the　noise　of　the　ploughs；　and　she　stopped　short；　white；
and　trembling　more　than　the　aspen　leaves　swaying　overhead。
One　morning　as　she　was　thus　returning；　she　suddenly　thought　she
saw　the　long　barrel　of　a　carbine　that　seemed　to　be　aimed　at　her。
It　stuck　out　sideways　from　the　end　of　a　small　tub　half…buried　in
the　grass　on　the　edge　of　a　ditch。　Emma；　half…fainting　with
terror；　nevertheless　walked　on；　and　a　man　stepped　out　of　the　tub
like　a　Jack…in…the…box。　He　had　gaiters　buckled　up　to　the　knees；
his　cap　pulled　down　over　his　eyes；　trembling　lips；　and　a　red
nose。　It　was　Captain　Binet　lying　in　ambush　for　wild　ducks。
〃You　ought　to　have　called　out　long　ago！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃When　one
sees　a　gun；　one　should　always　give　warning。〃
The　tax…collector　was　thus　trying　to　hide　the　fright　he　had　had；
for　a　prefectorial　order　having　prohibited　duckhunting　except　in
boats；　Monsieur　Binet；　despite　his　respect　for　the　laws；　was
infringing　them；　and　so　he　every　moment　expected　to　see　the　rural
guard　turn　up。　But　this　anxiety　whetted　his　pleasure；　and；　all
alone　in　his　tub；　he　congratulated　himself　on　his　luck　and　on　his
cuteness。　At　sight　of　Emma　he　seemed　relieved　from　a　great
weight；　and　at　once　entered　upon　a　conversation。
〃It　isn't　warm；　it's　nipping。〃
Emma　answered　nothing。　He　went　on
〃And　you're　out　so　early？〃
〃Yes；〃　she　said　stammering；　〃I　am　just　coming　from　the　nurse
where　my　child　is。〃
〃Ah！　very　good！　very　good！　For　myself；　I　am　here；　just　as　you
see　me；　since　break　of　day；　but　the　weather　is　so　muggy；　that
unless　one　had　the　bird　at　the　mouth　of　the　gun〃
〃Good　evening；　Monsieur　Binet；〃　she　interrupted　hi