madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第5部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


drop　the　bottom　of　her　glass。
She　sat　down　again　and　took　up　her　work；　a　white　cotton　stocking
she　was　darning。　She　worked　with　her　head　bent　down；　she　did　not
speak；　nor　did　Charles。　The　air　coming　in　under　the　door　blew　a
little　dust　over　the　flags；　he　watched　it　drift　along；　and　heard
nothing　but　the　throbbing　in　his　head　and　the　faint　clucking　of　a
hen　that　had　laid　an　egg　in　the　yard。　Emma　from　time　to　time
cooled　her　cheeks　with　the　palms　of　her　hands；　and　cooled　these
again　on　the　knobs　of　the　huge　fire…dogs。
She　complained　of　suffering　since　the　beginning　of　the　season
from　giddiness；　she　asked　if　sea…baths　would　do　her　any　good；　she
began　talking　of　her　convent；　Charles　of　his　school；　words　came
to　them。　They　went　up　into　her　bedroom。　She　showed　him　her　old
music…books；　the　little　prizes　she　had　won；　and　the　oak…leaf
crowns；　left　at　the　bottom　of　a　cupboard。　She　spoke　to　him；　too；
of　her　mother；　of　the　country；　and　even　showed　him　the　bed　in　the
garden　where；　on　the　first　Friday　of　every　month；　she　gathered
flowers　to　put　on　her　mother's　tomb。　But　the　gardener　they　had
never　knew　anything　about　it；　servants　are　so　stupid！　She　would
have　dearly　liked；　if　only　for　the　winter；　to　live　in　town；
although　the　length　of　the　fine　days　made　the　country　perhaps
even　more　wearisome　in　the　summer。　And；　according　to　what　she　was
saying；　her　voice　was　clear；　sharp；　or；　on　a　sudden　all　languor；
drawn　out　in　modulations　that　ended　almost　in　murmurs　as　she
spoke　to　herself；　now　joyous；　opening　big　naive　eyes；　then　with
her　eyelids　half　closed；　her　look　full　of　boredom；　her　thoughts
wandering。
Going　home　at　night；　Charles　went　over　her　words　one　by　one；
trying　to　recall　them；　to　fill　out　their　sense；　that　he　might
piece　out　the　life　she　had　lived　before　he　knew　her。　But　he　never
saw　her　in　his　thoughts　other　than　he　had　seen　her　the　first
time；　or　as　he　had　just　left　her。　Then　he　asked　himself　what
would　become　of　herif　she　would　be　married；　and　to　whom！　Alas！
Old　Rouault　was　rich；　and　she！so　beautiful！　But　Emma's　face
always　rose　before　his　eyes；　and　a　monotone；　like　the　humming　of
a　top；　sounded　in　his　ears；　〃If　you　should　marry　after　all！　If
you　should　marry！〃　At　night　he　could　not　sleep；　his　throat　was
parched；　he　was　athirst。　He　got　up　to　drink　from　the　water…bottle
and　opened　the　window。　The　night　was　covered　with　stars；　a　warm
wind　blowing　in　the　distance；　the　dogs　were　barking。　He　turned
his　head　towards　the　Bertaux。
Thinking　that；　after　all；　he　should　lose　nothing；　Charles
promised　himself　to　ask　her　in　marriage　as　soon　as　occasion
offered；　but　each　time　such　occasion　did　offer　the　fear　of　not
finding　the　right　words　sealed　his　lips。
Old　Rouault　would　not　have　been　sorry　to　be　rid　of　his　daughter；
who　was　of　no　use　to　him　in　the　house。　In　his　heart　he　excused
her；　thinking　her　too　clever　for　farming；　a　calling　under　the　ban
of　Heaven；　since　one　never　saw　a　millionaire　in　it。　Far　from
having　made　a　fortune　by　it；　the　good　man　was　losing　every　year；
for　if　he　was　good　in　bargaining；　in　which　he　enjoyed　the　dodges
of　the　trade；　on　the　other　hand；　agriculture　properly　so　called；
and　the　internal　management　of　the　farm；　suited　him　less　than
most　people。　He　did　not　willingly　take　his　hands　out　of　his
pockets；　and　did　not　spare　expense　in　all　that　concerned　himself；
liking　to　eat　well；　to　have　good　fires；　and　to　sleep　well。　He
liked　old　cider；　underdone　legs　of　mutton；　glorias*　well　beaten
up。　He　took　his　meals　in　the　kitchen　alone；　opposite　the　fire；　on
a　little　table　brought　to　him　all　ready　laid　as　on　the　stage。
*A　mixture　of　coffee　and　spirits。
When；　therefore；　he　perceived　that　Charles's　cheeks　grew　red　if
near　his　daughter；　which　meant　that　he　would　propose　for　her　one
of　these　days；　he　chewed　the　cud　of　the　matter　beforehand。　He
certainly　thought　him　a　little　meagre；　and　not　quite　the
son…in…law　he　would　have　liked；　but　he　was　said　to　be　well
brought…up；　economical；　very　learned；　and　no　doubt　would　not　make
too　many　difficulties　about　the　dowry。　Now；　as　old　Rouault　would
soon　be　forced　to　sell　twenty…two　acres　of　〃his　property；〃
as　he　owed　a　good　deal　to　the　mason；　to　the　harness…maker；　and　as
the　shaft　of　the　cider…press　wanted　renewing；　〃If　he　asks　for
her；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃I'll　give　her　to　him。〃
At　Michaelmas　Charles　went　to　spend　three　days　at　the　Bertaux。
The　last　had　passed　like　the　others　in　procrastinating　from　hour
to　hour。　Old　Rouault　was　seeing　him　off；　they　were　walking　along
the　road　full　of　ruts；　they　were　about　to　part。　This　was　the
time。　Charles　gave　himself　as　far　as　to　the　corner　of　the　hedge；
and　at　last；　when　past　it
〃Monsieur　Rouault；〃　he　murmured；　〃I　should　like　to　say　something
to　you。〃
They　stopped。　Charles　was　silent。
〃Well；　tell　me　your　story。　Don't　I　know　all　about　it？〃　said　old
Rouault；　laughing　softly。
〃Monsieur　RouaultMonsieur　Rouault；〃　stammered　Charles。
〃I　ask　nothing　better〃；　the　farmer　went　on。　〃Although；　no　doubt；
the　little　one　is　of　my　mind；　still　we　must　ask　her　opinion。　So
you　get　offI'll　go　back　home。　If　it　is　〃yes〃；　you　needn't
return　because　of　all　the　people　about；　and　besides　it　would
upset　her　too　much。　But　so　that　you　mayn't　be　eating　your　heart；
I'll　open　wide　the　outer　shutter　of　the　window　against　the　wall；
you　can　see　it　from　the　back　by　leaning　over　the　hedge。〃
And　he　went　off。
Charles　fastened　his　horse　to　a　tree；　he　ran　into　the　road　and
waited。　Half　an　hour　passed；　then　he　counted　nineteen　minutes　by
his　watch。　Suddenly　a　noise　was　heard　against　the　wall；　the
shutter　had　been　thrown　back；　the　hook　was　still　swinging。
The　next　day　by　nine　o'clock　he　was　at　the　farm。　Emma　blushed　as
he　entered；　and　she　gave　a　little　forced　laugh　to　keep　herself　in
countenance。　Old　Rouault　embraced　his　future　son…in…law。　The
discussion　of　money　matters　was　put　off；　moreover；　there　was
plenty　of　time　before　them；　as　the　marriage　could　not　decently
take　place　till　Charles　was　out　of　mourning；　that　is　to　say；
about　the　spring　of　the　next　year。
The　winter　passed　waiting　for　this。　Mademoiselle　Rouault　was　busy
with　her　trousseau。　Part　of　it　was　ordered　at　Rouen；　and　she　made
herself　chemises　and　nightcaps　after　fashion…plates　that　she
borrowed。　When　Charles　visited　the　farmer；　the　preparations　for
the　wedding　were　talked　over；　they　wondered　in　what　room　they
should　have　dinner；　they　dreamed　of　the　number　of　dishes　that
would　be　wanted；　and　what　should　be　entrees。
Emma　would；　on　the　contrary；　have　preferred　to　have　a　midnight
wedding　with　torches；　but　old　Rouault　could　not　understand　such
an　idea。　So　there　was　a　wedding　at　which　forty…three　persons　were
present；　at　which　they　remained　sixteen　hours　at　table；　began
again　the　next　day；　and　to　some　extent　on　the　days　following。

Chapter　Four
The　guests　arrived　early　in　carriages；　in　one…horse　chaises；
two…wheeled　cars；　old　open　gigs；　waggonettes　with　leather　hoods；
and　the　young　people　from　the　nearer　villages　in　carts；　in　which
they　stood　up　in　rows；　holding　on　to　the　sides　so　as　not　to　fall；
going　at　a　trot　and　well　shaken　up。　Some　came　from　a　distance　of
thirty　miles；　from　Goderville；　from　Normanville；　and　from　Cany。
All　the　relatives　of　both　families　had　been　invited；　quarrels
between　friends　arranged；　acquaintances　long　since　lost　sight　of
written　to。
》From　time　to　time　one　heard　the　crack　of　a　whip　behind　the　hedge；
then　the　gates　opened；　a　chaise　entered。　Galloping　up　to　the　foot
of　the　steps；　it　stopped　short　and　emptied　its　load。　They　got
down　from　all　sides；　rubbing　knees　and　stretching　arms。　The
ladies；　wearing　bonnets；　had　on　dresses　in　the　town　fashion；　gold
watch　chains；　pelerines　with　the　ends　tucked　into　belts；　or
little　coloured　fichus　fastened　down　behind　with　a　pin；　and　that
left　the　back　of　the　neck　bare。　The　lads；　dressed　like　their
papas；　seemed　uncomfortable　in　their　new　clothes　（many　that　day
hand…sewed　their　first　pair　of　boots）；　and　by　their　sides；
speaking　never　a　work；　wearing　the　white　dress　of　their　first
communion　lengthened　for　the　occasion　were　some　big　girls　of
fourteen　or　sixteen；　cousins　or　elder　sisters　no　doubt；　rubicund；
bewildered；　their　hair　greasy　with　rose　pomade；　and　very　much
afraid　of　dirtying　their　gloves。　As　there　were　not　enough
stable…boys　to　unharness　all　the　carriages；　the　gentlemen　turned
up　their　sleeves　and　set　about　it　themselves。　According　to　their
different　social　positions　they　wore　tail…coats；　overcoats；
shooting　jackets；　cutaway…coats；　fine　tail…coats；　redolent　of
family　respectability；　that　only　came　out　of　the　wardrobe　on
state　occasions；　overcoats　with　long　tails　flapping　in　the　wind
and　round　capes　and　pockets　like　sacks；　shooting　jackets　of
coarse　cloth；　generally　worn　with　a　cap　with　a　brass…bound　peak；
very　short　cutaway…coats　with　two　small　buttons　in　the　back；
close　together　like　a　pair　of　eyes；　and　the　tails　of　which　seemed
cut　out　of　one　piece　by　a　carpenter's　hatchet。　Some；　too　（but
these；　you　may　be　sure；　would　sit　at　the　bottom　of　the　table）；
wore　their　best　blousesthat　is　to　say；　with　collars　turned　down
to　the　shoulders；　the　back　gathered　into　small　plaits　and　the
waist　fastened　very　low　down　with　a　worked　belt。
And　the　shirts　stood　out　from　the　chests　like　cuirasses！　Everyone
had　just　had　his　hair　cut；　ears　stood　out　from　the　heads；　they
had　been　close…shaved；　a　few；　even；　who　had　had　to　get　up　before
daybreak；　and　not　been　able　to　see　to　shave；　had　diagonal　gashes
under　their　noses　or　cuts　the　size　of　a　three…franc　piece　along
the　jaws；　which　the　fresh　air　en　route　had　enflamed；　so　that　the
great　white　beaming　faces　were　mottled　here　and　there　with　red
dabs。
The　mairie　was　a　mile　and　a　half　from　the　farm；　and　they　went
thither　on　foot；　returning　in　the　same　way　after　the　ceremony　in
the　church。　The　procession；　first　united　like　one　long　coloured
scarf　that　undulated　across　the　fields；　along　the　narrow　path
winding　amid　the　green　corn；　soon　lengthened　out；　and　broke　up
into　different　groups　that　loitered　to　talk。　The　fiddler　walked
in　front　with　his　violin；　gay　with　ribbons　at　its　pegs。　Then　came
the　married　pair；　the　relations；　the　friends；　all　following
pell…mell；　the　children　stayed　behind　amusing　themselves　pluckin