of a valley watered by the Rieule； a little river that runs into
the Andelle after turning three water…mills near its mouth； where
there are a few trout that the lads amuse themselves by fishing
for on Sundays。
We leave the highroad at La Boissiere and keep straight on to the
top of the Leux hill； whence the valley is seen。 The river that
runs through it makes of it； as it were； two regions with
distinct physiognomiesall on the left is pasture land； all of
the right arable。 The meadow stretches under a bulge of low hills
to join at the back with the pasture land of the Bray country；
while on the eastern side； the plain； gently rising； broadens
out； showing as far as eye can follow its blond cornfields。 The
water； flowing by the grass； divides with a white line the colour
of the roads and of the plains； and the country is like a great
unfolded mantle with a green velvet cape bordered with a fringe
of silver。
Before us； on the verge of the horizon； lie the oaks of the
forest of Argueil； with the steeps of the Saint…Jean hills
scarred from top to bottom with red irregular lines； they are
rain tracks； and these brick…tones standing out in narrow streaks
against the grey colour of the mountain are due to the quantity
of iron springs that flow beyond in the neighboring country。
Here we are on the confines of Normandy； Picardy； and the
Ile…de…France； a bastard land whose language is without accent
and its landscape is without character。 It is there that they
make the worst Neufchatel cheeses of all the arrondissement； and；
on the other hand； farming is costly because so much manure is
needed to enrich this friable soil full of sand and flints。
Up to 1835 there was no practicable road for getting to Yonville；
but about this time a cross…road was made which joins that of
Abbeville to that of Amiens； and is occasionally used by the
Rouen wagoners on their way to Flanders。 Yonville…l'Abbaye has
remained stationary in spite of its 〃new outlet。〃 Instead of
improving the soil； they persist in keeping up the pasture lands；
however depreciated they may be in value； and the lazy borough；
growing away from the plain； has naturally spread riverwards。 It
is seem from afar sprawling along the banks like a cowherd taking
a siesta by the water…side。
At the foot of the hill beyond the bridge begins a roadway；
planted with young aspens； that leads in a straight line to the
first houses in the place。 These； fenced in by hedges； are in the
middle of courtyards full of straggling buildings； wine…presses；
cart…sheds and distilleries scattered under thick trees； with
ladders； poles； or scythes hung on to the branches。 The thatched
roofs； like fur caps drawn over eyes； reach down over about a
third of the low windows； whose coarse convex glasses have knots
in the middle like the bottoms of bottles。 Against the plaster
wall diagonally crossed by black joists； a meagre pear…tree
sometimes leans and the ground…floors have at their door a small
swing…gate to keep out the chicks that come pilfering crumbs of
bread steeped in cider on the threshold。 But the courtyards grow
narrower； the houses closer together； and the fences disappear； a
bundle of ferns swings under a window from the end of a
broomstick； there is a blacksmith's forge and then a
wheelwright's； with two or three new carts outside that partly
block the way。 Then across an open space appears a white house
beyond a grass mound ornamented by a Cupid； his finger on his
lips； two brass vases are at each end of a flight of steps；
scutcheons* blaze upon the door。 It is the notary's house； and
the finest in the place。
*The panonceaux that have to be hung over the doors of notaries。
The Church is on the other side of the street； twenty paces
farther down； at the entrance of the square。 The little cemetery
that surrounds it； closed in by a wall breast high； is so full of
graves that the old stones； level with the ground； form a
continuous pavement； on which the grass of itself has marked out
regular green squares。 The church was rebuilt during the last
years of the reign of Charles X。 The wooden roof is beginning to
rot from the top； and here and there has black hollows in its
blue colour。 Over the door； where the organ should be； is a loft
for the men； with a spiral staircase that reverberates under
their wooden shoes。
The daylight coming through the plain glass windows falls
obliquely upon the pews ranged along the walls； which are adorned
here and there with a straw mat bearing beneath it the words in
large letters； 〃Mr。 So…and…so's pew。〃 Farther on； at a spot where
the building narrows； the confessional forms a pendant to a
statuette of the Virgin； clothed in a satin robe； coifed with a
tulle veil sprinkled with silver stars； and with red cheeks； like
an idol of the Sandwich Islands； and； finally； a copy of the
〃Holy Family； presented by the Minister of the Interior；〃
overlooking the high altar； between four candlesticks； closes in
the perspective。 The choir stalls； of deal wood； have been left
unpainted。
The market； that is to say； a tiled roof supported by some twenty
posts； occupies of itself about half the public square of
Yonville。 The town hall； constructed 〃from the designs of a Paris
architect；〃 is a sort of Greek temple that forms the corner next
to the chemist's shop。 On the ground…floor are three Ionic
columns and on the first floor a semicircular gallery； while the
dome that crowns it is occupied by a Gallic cock； resting one
foot upon the 〃Charte〃 and holding in the other the scales of
Justice。
But that which most attracts the eye is opposite the Lion d'Or
inn； the chemist's shop of Monsieur Homais。 In the evening
especially its argand lamp is lit up and the red and green jars
that embellish his shop…front throw far across the street their
two streams of colour； then across them as if in Bengal lights is
seen the shadow of the chemist leaning over his desk。 His house
from top to bottom is placarded with inscriptions written in
large hand； round hand； printed hand： 〃Vichy； Seltzer； Barege
waters； blood purifiers； Raspail patent medicine； Arabian
racahout； Darcet lozenges； Regnault paste； trusses； baths；
hygienic chocolate；〃 etc。 And the signboard； which takes up all
the breadth of the shop； bears in gold letters； 〃Homais；
Chemist。〃 Then at the back of the shop； behind the great scales
fixed to the counter； the word 〃Laboratory〃 appears on a scroll
above a glass door； which about half…way up once more repeats
〃Homais〃 in gold letters on a black ground。
Beyond this there is nothing to see at Yonville。 The street （the
only one） a gunshot in length and flanked by a few shops on
either side stops short at the turn of the highroad。 If it is
left on the right hand and the foot of the Saint…Jean hills
followed the cemetery is soon reached。
At the time of the cholera； in order to enlarge this； a piece of
wall was pulled down； and three acres of land by its side
purchased； but all the new portion is almost tenantless； the
tombs； as heretofore； continue to crowd together towards the
gate。 The keeper； who is at once gravedigger and church beadle
（thus making a double profit out of the parish corpses）； has
taken advantage of the unused plot of ground to plant potatoes
there。 From year to year； however； his small field grows smaller；
and when there is an epidemic； he does not know whether to
rejoice at the deaths or regret the burials。
〃You live on the dead； Lestiboudois！〃 the curie at last said to
him one day。 This grim remark made him reflect； it checked him
for some time； but to this day he carries on the cultivation of
his little tubers； and even maintains stoutly that they grow
naturally。
Since the events about to be narrated； nothing in fact has
changed at Yonville。 The tin tricolour flag still swings at the
top of the church…steeple； the two chintz streamers still flutter
in the wind from the linen…draper's； the chemist's fetuses； like
lumps of white amadou； rot more and more in their turbid alcohol；
and above the big door of the inn the old golden lion； faded by
rain； still shows passers…by its poodle mane。
On the evening when the Bovarys were to arrive at Yonville； Widow
Lefrancois； the landlady of this inn； was so very busy that she
sweated great drops as she moved her saucepans。 To…morrow was
market…day。 The meat had to be cut beforehand； the fowls drawn；
the soup and coffee made。 Moreover； she had the boarders' meal to
see to； and that of the doctor； his wife； and their servant； the
billiard…room was echoing with bursts of laughter； three millers
in a small parlour were calling for brandy； the wood was blazing；
the brazen pan was hissing； and on the long kitchen table； amid
the quarters of raw mutton； rose piles of plates that rattled
with the shaking of the block on which spinach was being chopped。
》From the poultry…yard was heard the screaming of the fowls whom
the servant was chasing in order to wring their necks。
A man slightly marked with small…pox； in green leather slippers；
and wearing a velvet cap with a gold tassel； was warming his back
at the chimney。 His face expressed nothing but self…satisfaction；
and he appeared to take life as calmly as the goldfinch suspended
over his head in its wicker cage： this was the chemist。
〃Artemise！〃 shouted the landlady； 〃chop some wood； fill the water
bottles； bring some brandy； look sharp！ If only I knew what
dessert to offer the guests you are expecting！ Good heavens！
Those furniture…movers are beginning their racket in the
billiard…room again； and their van has been left before the front
door！ The 'Hirondelle' might run into it when it draws up。 Call
Polyte and tell him to put it up。 Only think； Monsieur Homais；
that since morning they have had about fifteen games； and drunk
eight jars of cider！ Why； they'll tear my cloth for me；〃 she went
on； looking at them from a distance； her strainer in her hand。
〃That wouldn't be much of a loss；〃 replied Monsieur Homais。 〃You
would buy another。〃
〃Another billiard…table！〃 exclaimed the widow。
〃Since that one is coming to pieces； Madame Lefrancois。 I tell
you again you are doing yourself harm； much harm！ And besides；
pla