that mummers would get something out of them for their show； he
was disconsolate； and in this confusion of sentiments in which he
was involved he would have like at once to crown Racine with both
his hands and discuss with him for a good quarter of an hour。
At last Emma remembered that at the chateau of Vaubyessard she
had heard the Marchioness call a young lady Berthe； from that
moment this name was chosen； and as old Rouault could not come；
Monsieur Homais was requested to stand godfather。 His gifts were
all products from his establishment； to wit： six boxes of
jujubes； a whole jar of racahout； three cakes of marshmallow
paste； and six sticks of sugar…candy into the bargain that he had
come across in a cupboard。 On the evening of the ceremony there
was a grand dinner； the cure was present； there was much
excitement。 Monsieur Homais towards liqueur…time began singing
〃Le Dieu des bonnes gens。〃 Monsieur Leon sang a barcarolle； and
Madame Bovary； senior； who was godmother； a romance of the time
of the Empire； finally； M。 Bovary； senior； insisted on having the
child brought down； and began baptizing it with a glass of
champagne that he poured over its head。 This mockery of the first
of the sacraments made the Abbe Bournisien angry； old Bovary
replied by a quotation from 〃La Guerre des Dieux〃； the cure
wanted to leave； the ladies implored； Homais interfered； and they
succeeded in making the priest sit down again； and he quietly
went on with the half…finished coffee in his saucer。
Monsieur Bovary； senior； stayed at Yonville a month； dazzling the
native by a superb policeman's cap with silver tassels that he
wore in the morning when he smoked his pipe in the square。 Being
also in the habit of drinking a good deal of brandy； he often
sent the servant to the Lion d'Or to buy him a bottle； which was
put down to his son's account； and to perfume his handkerchiefs
he used up his daughter…in…law's whole supply of eau…de…cologne。
The latter did not at all dislike his company。 He had knocked
about the world； he talked about Berlin； Vienna； and Strasbourg；
of his soldier times； of the mistresses he had had； the grand
luncheons of which he had partaken； then he was amiable； and
sometimes even； either on the stairs； or in the garden； would
seize hold of her waist； crying； 〃Charles； look out for
yourself。〃
Then Madame Bovary； senior； became alarmed for her son's
happiness； and fearing that her husband might in the long…run
have an immoral influence upon the ideas of the young woman； took
care to hurry their departure。 Perhaps she had more serious
reasons for uneasiness。 Monsieur Bovary was not the man to
respect anything。
One day Emma was suddenly seized with the desire to see her
little girl； who had been put to nurse with the carpenter's wife；
and； without looking at the calendar to see whether the six weeks
of the Virgin were yet passed； she set out for the Rollets'
house； situated at the extreme end of the village； between the
highroad and the fields。
It was mid…day； the shutters of the houses were closed and the
slate roofs that glittered beneath the fierce light of the blue
sky seemed to strike sparks from the crest of the gables。 A heavy
wind was blowing； Emma felt weak as she walked； the stones of the
pavement hurt her； she was doubtful whether she would not go home
again； or go in somewhere to rest。
At this moment Monsieur Leon came out from a neighbouring door
with a bundle of papers under his arm。 He came to greet her； and
stood in the shade in front of the Lheureux's shop under the
projecting grey awning。
Madame Bovary said she was going to see her baby； but that she
was beginning to grow tired。
〃If〃 said Leon； not daring to go on。
〃Have you any business to attend to？〃 she asked。
And on the clerk's answer； she begged him to accompany her。 That
same evening this was known in Yonville； and Madame Tuvache； the
mayor's wife； declared in the presence of her servant that
〃Madame Bovary was compromising herself。〃
To get to the nurse's it was necessary to turn to the left on
leaving the street； as if making for the cemetery； and to follow
between little houses and yards a small path bordered with privet
hedges。 They were in bloom； and so were the speedwells；
eglantines； thistles； and the sweetbriar that sprang up from the
thickets。 Through openings in the hedges one could see into the
huts； some pigs on a dung…heap； or tethered cows rubbing their
horns against the trunk of trees。 The two； side by side walked
slowly； she leaning upon him； and he restraining his pace； which
he regulated by hers； in front of them a swarm of midges
fluttered； buzzing in the warm air。
The recognized the house by an old walnut…tree which shaded it。
Low and covered with brown tiles； there hung outside it； beneath
the dormer…window of the garret； a string of onions。 Faggots
upright against a thorn fence surrounded a bed of lettuce； a few
square feet of lavender； and sweet peas stung on sticks。 Dirty
water was running here and there on the grass； and all round were
several indefinite rags； knitted stockings； a red calico jacket；
and a large sheet of coarse linen spread over the hedge。 At the
noise of the gate the nurse appeared with a baby she was suckling
on one arm。 With her other hand she was pulling along a poor puny
little fellow； his face covered with scrofula； the son of a Rouen
hosier； whom his parents； too taken up with their business； left
in the country。
〃Go in；〃 she said； 〃your little one is there asleep。〃
The room on the ground…floor； the only one in the dwelling； had
at its farther end； against the wall； a large bed without
curtains； while a kneading…trough took up the side by the window；
one pane of which was mended with a piece of blue paper。 In the
corner behind the door； shining hob…nailed shoes stood in a row
under the slab of the washstand； near a bottle of oil with a
feather stuck in its mouth； a Matthieu Laensberg lay on the dusty
mantelpiece amid gunflints； candle…ends； and bits of amadou。
Finally； the last luxury in the apartment was a 〃Fame〃 blowing
her trumpets； a picture cut out； no doubt； from some perfumer's
prospectus and nailed to the wall with six wooden shoe…pegs。
Emma's child was asleep in a wicker…cradle。 She took it up in the
wrapping that enveloped it and began singing softly as she rocked
herself to and fro。
Leon walked up and down the room； it seemed strange to him to see
this beautiful woman in her nankeen dress in the midst of all
this poverty。 Madam Bovary reddened； he turned away； thinking
perhaps there had been an impertinent look in his eyes。 Then she
put back the little girl； who had just been sick over her collar。
The nurse at once came to dry her； protesting that it wouldn't
show。
〃She gives me other doses；〃 she said： 〃I am always a…washing of
her。 If you would have the goodness to order Camus； the grocer；
to let me have a little soap； it would really be more convenient
for you； as I needn't trouble you then。〃
〃Very well！ very well！〃 said Emma。 〃Good morning； Madame Rollet；〃
and she went out； wiping her shoes at the door。
The good woman accompanied her to the end of the garden； talking
all the time of the trouble she had getting up of nights。
〃I'm that worn out sometimes as I drop asleep on my chair。 I'm
sure you might at least give me just a pound of ground coffee；
that'd last me a month； and I'd take it of a morning with some
milk。〃
After having submitted to her thanks； Madam Bovary left。 She had
gone a little way down the path when； at the sound of wooden
shoes； she turned round。 It was the nurse。
〃What is it？〃
Then the peasant woman； taking her aside behind an elm tree；
began talking to her of her husband； who with his trade and six
francs a year that the captain
〃Oh； be quick！〃 said Emma。
〃Well；〃 the nurse went on； heaving sighs between each word； 〃I'm
afraid he'll be put out seeing me have coffee along； you know
men〃
〃But you are to have some；〃 Emma repeated； 〃I will give you some。
You bother me！〃
〃Oh； dear！ my poor； dear lady！ you see in consequence of his
wounds he has terrible cramps in the chest。 He even says that
cider weakens him。〃
〃Do make haste； Mere Rollet！〃
〃Well；〃 the latter continued； making a curtsey； 〃if it weren't
asking too much；〃 and she curtsied once more； 〃if you would〃and
her eyes begged〃a jar of brandy；〃 she said at last； 〃and I'd
rub your little one's feet with it； they're as tender as one's
tongue。〃
Once rid of the nurse； Emma again took Monsieur Leon's arm。 She
walked fast for some time； then more slowly； and looking straight
in front of her； her eyes rested on the shoulder of the young
man； whose frock…coat had a black…velvety collar。 His brown hair
fell over it； straight and carefully arranged。 She noticed his
nails which were longer than one wore them at Yonville。 It was
one of the clerk's chief occupations to trim them； and for this
purpose he kept a special knife in his writing desk。
They returned to Yonville by the water…side。 In the warm season
the bank； wider than at other times； showed to their foot the
garden walls whence a few steps led to the river。 It flowed
noiselessly； swift； and cold to the eye； long； thin grasses
huddled together in it as the current drove them； and spread
themselves upon the limpid water like streaming hair； sometimes
at the tip of the reeds or on the leaf of a water…lily an insect
with fine legs crawled or rested。 The sun pierced with a ray the
small blue bubbles of the waves that； breaking； followed each
other； branchless old willows mirrored their grey backs in the
water； beyond； all around； the meadows seemed empty。 It was the
dinner…hour at the farms； and the young woman and her companion
heard nothing as they walked but the fall of their steps on the
earth of the path； the words they spoke； and the sound of Emma's
dress rustling round her。
The walls of the gardens with pieces of bottle on their coping
were hot as the glass windows of a conservatory。 Wallflowers had
sprung up between the bricks； and with the tip of her open
sunshade Madame Bovary； as she passed； made some of their faded
flowers crumble into a yellow dust；