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； or a spray of overhanging
honeysuckle and clematis caught in its fringe and dangled for a
moment over the silk。
They were talking of a troupe of Spanish dancers who were
expected shortly at the Rouen theatre。
〃Are you going？〃 she asked。
〃If I can；〃 he answered。
Had they nothing else to say to one another？ Yet their eyes were
full of more serious speech； and while they forced themselves to
find trivial phrases； they felt the same languor stealing over
them both。 It was the whisper of the soul； deep； continuous；
dominating that of their voices。 Surprised with wonder at this
strange sweetness； they did not think of speaking of the
sensation or of seeking its cause。 Coming joys； like tropical
shores； throw over the immensity before them their inborn
softness； an odorous wind； and we are lulled by this intoxication
without a thought of the horizon that we do not even know。
In one place the ground had been trodden down by the cattle； they
had to step on large green stones put here and there in the mud。
She often stopped a moment to look where to place her foot； and
tottering on a stone that shook； her arms outspread； her form
bent forward with a look of indecision； she would laugh； afraid
of falling into the puddles of water。
When they arrived in front of her garden； Madame Bovary opened
the little gate； ran up the steps and disappeared。
Leon returned to his office。 His chief was away； he just glanced
at the briefs； then cut himself a pen； and at last took up his
hat and went out。
He went to La Pature at the top of the Argueil hills at the
beginning of the forest； he threw himself upon the ground under
the pines and watched the sky through his fingers。
〃How bored I am！〃 he said to himself； 〃how bored I am！〃
He thought he was to be pitied for living in this village； with
Homais for a friend and Monsieru Guillaumin for master。 The
latter； entirely absorbed by his business； wearing gold…rimmed
spectacles and red whiskers over a white cravat； understood
nothing of mental refinements； although he affected a stiff
English manner； which in the beginning had impressed the clerk。
As to the chemist's spouse； she was the best wife in Normandy；
gentle as a sheep； loving her children； her father； her mother；
her cousins； weeping for other's woes； letting everything go in
her household； and detesting corsets； but so slow of movement；
such a bore to listen to； so common in appearance； and of such
restricted conversation； that although she was thirty； he only
twenty； although they slept in rooms next each other and he spoke
to her daily； he never thought that she might be a woman for
another； or that she possessed anything else of her sex than the
gown。
And what else was there？ Binet； a few shopkeepers； two or three
publicans； the cure； and finally； Monsieur Tuvache； the mayor；
with his two sons； rich； crabbed； obtuse persons； who farmed
their own lands and had feasts among themselves； bigoted to boot；
and quite unbearable companions。
But from the general background of all these human faces Emma's
stood out isolated and yet farthest off； for between her and him
he seemed to see a vague abyss。
In the beginning he had called on her several times along with
the druggist。 Charles had not appeared particularly anxious to
see him again； and Leon did not know what to do between his fear
of being indiscreet and the desire for an intimacy that seemed
almost impossible。
Chapter Four
When the first cold days set in Emma left her bedroom for the
sitting…room； a long apartment with a low ceiling； in which there
was on the mantelpiece a large bunch of coral spread out against
the looking…glass。 Seated in her arm chair near the window； she
could see the villagers pass along the pavement。
Twice a day Leon went from his office to the Lion d'Or。 Emma
could hear him coming from afar； she leant forward listening； and
the young man glided past the curtain； always dressed in the same
way； and without turning his head。 But in the twilight； when； her
chin resting on her left hand； she let the embroidery she had
begun fall on her knees； she often shuddered at the apparition of
this shadow suddenly gliding past。 She would get up and order the
table to be laid。
Monsieur Homais called at dinner…time。 Skull…cap in hand； he came
in on tiptoe； in order to disturb no one； always repeating the
same phrase； 〃Good evening； everybody。〃 Then； when he had taken
his seat at the table between the pair； he asked the doctor about
his patients； and the latter consulted his as to the probability
of their payment。 Next they talked of 〃what was in the paper。〃
Homais by this hour knew it almost by heart； and he repeated it
from end to end； with the reflections of the penny…a…liners； and
all the stories of individual catastrophes that had occurred in
France or abroad。 But the subject becoming exhausted； he was not
slow in throwing out some remarks on the dishes before him。
Sometimes even； half…rising； he delicately pointed out to madame
the tenderest morsel； or turning to the servant； gave her some
advice on the manipulation of stews and the hygiene of seasoning。
He talked aroma； osmazome； juices； and gelatine in a bewildering
manner。 Moreover； Homais； with his head fuller of recipes than
his shop of jars； excelled in making all kinds of preserves；
vinegars； and sweet liqueurs； he knew also all the latest
inventions in economic stoves； together with the art of
preserving cheese and of curing sick wines。
At eight o'clock Justin came to fetch him to shut up the shop。
Then Monsieur Homais gave him a sly look； especially if Felicite
was there； for he half noticed that his apprentice was fond of
the doctor's house。
〃The young dog；〃 he said； 〃is beginning to have ideas； and the
devil take me if I don't believe he's in love with your servant！〃
But a more serious fault with which he reproached Justin was his
constantly listening to conversation。 On Sunday； for example； one
could not get him out of the drawing…room； whither Madame Homais
had called him to fetch the children； who were falling asleep in
the arm…chairs； and dragging down with their backs calico
chair…covers that were too large。
Not many people came to these soirees at the chemist's； his
scandal…mongering and political opinions having successfully
alienated various respectable persons from him。 The clerk never
failed to be there。 As soon as he heard the bell he ran to meet
Madame Bovary； took her shawl； and put away under the
shop…counter the thick list shoes that she wore over her boots
when there was snow。
First they played some hands at trente…et…un； next Monsieur
Homais played ecarte with Emma； Leon behind her gave her advice。
Standing up with his hands on the back of her chair he saw the
teeth of her comb that bit into her chignon。 With every movement
that she made to throw her cards the right side of her dress was
drawn up。 From her turned…up hair a dark colour fell over her
back； and growing gradually paler； lost itself little by little
in the shade。 Then her dress fell on both sides of her chair；
puffing out full of folds； and reached the ground。 When Leon
occasionally felt the sole of his boot resting on it； he drew
back as if he had trodden upon some one。
When the game of cards was over； the druggist and the Doctor
played dominoes； and Emma； changing her place； leant her elbow on
the table； turning over the leaves of L'Illustration。〃 She had
brought her ladies' journal with her。 Leon sat down near her；
they looked at the engravings together； and waited for one
another at the bottom of the pages。 She often begged him to read
her the verses； Leon declaimed them in a languid voice； to which
he carefully gave a dying fall in the love passages。 But the
noise of the dominoes annoyed him。 Monsieur Homais was strong at
the game； he could beat Charles and give him a double…six。 Then
the three hundred finished； they both stretched themselves out in
front of the fire； and were soon asleep。 The fire was dying out
in the cinders； the teapot was empty； Leon was still reading。
Emma listened to him； mechanically turning around the lampshade；
on the gauze of which were painted clowns in carriages； and
tight…rope dances with their balancing…poles。 Leon stopped；
pointing with a gesture to his sleeping audience； then they
talked in low tones； and their conversation seemed the more sweet
to them because it was unheard。
Thus a kind of bond was established between them； a constant
commerce of books and of romances。 Monsieur Bovary； little given
to jealousy； did not trouble himself about it。
On his birthday he received a beautiful phrenological head； all
marked with figures to the thorax and painted blue。 This was an
attention of the clerk's。 He showed him many others； even to
doing errands for him at Rouen； and the book of a novelist having
made the mania for cactuses fashionable； Leon bought some for
Madame Bovary； bringing them back on his knees in the
〃Hirondelle；〃 pricking his fingers on their hard hairs。
She had a board with a balustrade fixed against her window to
hold the pots。 The clerk； too； had his small hanging garden； they
saw each other tending their flowers at their windows。
Of the windows of the village there was one yet more often
occupied； for on Sundays from morning to night； and every morning
when the weather was bright； one could see at the dormer…window
of the garret the profile of Monsieur Binet bending over his
lathe； whose monotonous humming could be heard at the Lion d'Or。
One evening on coming home Leon found in his room a rug in velvet
and wool with leaves on a pale ground。 He called Madame Homais；
Monsieur Homais； Justin； the children； the cook； he spoke of it
to his chief； every one wanted to see this rug。 Why did the
doctor's wife give the clerk presents？ It looked queer。 They
decided that she must be his lover。
He made this seem likely； so ceaselessly did he talk of her
charms and of her wit； so much so； that Binet once roughly
answered h