her linen in order for her in the presses； and taught her to keep
an eye on the butcher when he brought the meat。 Emma put up with
these lessons。 Madame Bovary was lavish of them； and the words
〃daughter〃 and 〃mother〃 were exchanged all day long； accompanied
by little quiverings of the lips； each one uttering gentle words
in a voice trembling with anger。
In Madame Dubuc's time the old woman felt that she was still the
favorite； but now the love of Charles for Emma seemed to her a
desertion from her tenderness； an encroachment upon what was
hers； and she watched her son's happiness in sad silence； as a
ruined man looks through the windows at people dining in his old
house。 She recalled to him as remembrances her troubles and her
sacrifices； and； comparing these with Emma's negligence； came to
the conclusion that it was not reasonable to adore her so
exclusively。
Charles knew not what to answer： he respected his mother； and he
loved his wife infinitely； he considered the judgment of the one
infallible； and yet he thought the conduct of the other
irreproachable。 When Madam Bovary had gone； he tried timidly and
in the same terms to hazard one or two of the more anodyne
observations he had heard from his mamma。 Emma proved to him with
a word that he was mistaken； and sent him off to his patients。
And yet； in accord with theories she believed right； she wanted
to make herself in love with him。 By moonlight in the garden she
recited all the passionate rhymes she knew by heart； and；
sighing； sang to him many melancholy adagios； but she found
herself as calm after as before； and Charles seemed no more
amorous and no more moved。
When she had thus for a while struck the flint on her heart
without getting a spark； incapable； moreover； of understanding
what she did not experience as of believing anything that did not
present itself in conventional forms； she persuaded herself
without difficulty that Charles's passion was nothing very
exorbitant。 His outbursts became regular； he embraced her at
certain fixed times。 It was one habit among other habits； and；
like a dessert； looked forward to after the monotony of dinner。
A gamekeeper； cured by the doctor of inflammation of the lungs；
had given madame a little Italian greyhound； she took her out
walking； for she went out sometimes in order to be alone for a
moment； and not to see before her eyes the eternal garden and the
dusty road。 She went as far as the beeches of Banneville； near
the deserted pavilion which forms an angle of the wall on the
side of the country。 Amidst the vegetation of the ditch there are
long reeds with leaves that cut you。
She began by looking round her to see if nothing had changed
since last she had been there。 She found again in the same places
the foxgloves and wallflowers； the beds of nettles growing round
the big stones； and the patches of lichen along the three
windows； whose shutters； always closed； were rotting away on
their rusty iron bars。 Her thoughts； aimless at first； wandered
at random； like her greyhound； who ran round and round in the
fields； yelping after the yellow butterflies； chasing the
shrew…mice； or nibbling the poppies on the edge of a cornfield。
Then gradually her ideas took definite shape； and； sitting on the
grass that she dug up with little prods of her sunshade； Emma
repeated to herself； 〃Good heavens！ Why did I marry？〃
She asked herself if by some other chance combination it would
have not been possible to meet another man； and she tried to
imagine what would have been these unrealised events； this
different life； this unknown husband。 All； surely； could not be
like this one。 He might have been handsome； witty； distinguished；
attractive； such as； no doubt； her old companions of the convent
had married。 What were they doing now？ In town； with the noise of
the streets； the buzz of the theatres and the lights of the
ballroom； they were living lives where the heart expands； the
senses bourgeon out。 But sheher life was cold as a garret whose
dormer window looks on the north； and ennui； the silent spider；
was weaving its web in the darkness in every corner of her heart。
She recalled the prize days； when she mounted the platform to
receive her little crowns； with her hair in long plaits。 In her
white frock and open prunella shoes she had a pretty way； and
when she went back to her seat； the gentlemen bent over her to
congratulate her； the courtyard was full of carriages； farewells
were called to her through their windows； the music master with
his violin case bowed in passing by。 How far all of this！ How far
away！ She called Djali； took her between her knees； and smoothed
the long delicate head； saying； 〃Come； kiss mistress； you have no
troubles。〃
Then noting the melancholy face of the graceful animal； who
yawned slowly； she softened； and comparing her to herself； spoke
to her aloud as to somebody in trouble whom one is consoling。
Occasionally there came gusts of winds； breezes from the sea
rolling in one sweep over the whole plateau of the Caux country；
which brought even to these fields a salt freshness。 The rushes；
close to the ground； whistled； the branches trembled in a swift
rustling； while their summits； ceaselessly swaying； kept up a
deep murmur。 Emma drew her shawl round her shoulders and rose。
In the avenue a green light dimmed by the leaves lit up the short
moss that crackled softly beneath her feet。 The sun was setting；
the sky showed red between the branches； and the trunks of the
trees； uniform； and planted in a straight line； seemed a brown
colonnade standing out against a background of gold。 A fear took
hold of her； she called Djali； and hurriedly returned to Tostes
by the high road； threw herself into an armchair； and for the
rest of the evening did not speak。
But towards the end of September something extraordinary fell
upon her life； she was invited by the Marquis d'Andervilliers to
Vaubyessard。
Secretary of State under the Restoration； the Marquis； anxious to
re…enter political life； set about preparing for his candidature
to the Chamber of Deputies long beforehand。 In the winter he
distributed a great deal of wood； and in the Conseil General
always enthusiastically demanded new roads for his
arrondissement。 During the dog…days he had suffered from an
abscess； which Charles had cured as if by miracle by giving a
timely little touch with the lancet。 The steward sent to Tostes
to pay for the operation reported in the evening that he had seen
some superb cherries in the doctor's little garden。 Now cherry
trees did not thrive at Vaubyessard； the Marquis asked Bovary for
some slips； made it his business to thank his personally； saw
Emma； thought she had a pretty figure； and that she did not bow
like a peasant； so that he did not think he was going beyond the
bounds of condescension； nor； on the other hand； making a
mistake； in inviting the young couple。
On Wednesday at three o'clock； Monsieur and Madame Bovary； seated
in their dog…cart； set out for Vaubyessard； with a great trunk
strapped on behind and a bonnet…box in front of the apron。
Besides these Charles held a bandbox between his knees。
They arrived at nightfall； just as the lamps in the park were
being lit to show the way for the carriages。
Chapter Eight
The chateau； a modern building in Italian style； with two
projecting wings and three flights of steps； lay at the foot of
an immense green…sward； on which some cows were grazing among
groups of large trees set out at regular intervals； while large
beds of arbutus； rhododendron； syringas； and guelder roses bulged
out their irregular clusters of green along the curve of the
gravel path。 A river flowed under a bridge； through the mist one
could distinguish buildings with thatched roofs scattered over
the field bordered by two gently sloping； well timbered hillocks；
and in the background amid the trees rose in two parallel lines
the coach houses and stables； all that was left of the ruined old
chateau。
Charles's dog…cart pulled up before the middle flight of steps；
servants appeared； the Marquis came forward； and； offering his
arm to the doctor's wife； conducted her to the vestibule。
It was paved with marble slabs； was very lofty； and the sound of
footsteps and that of voices re…echoed through it as in a church。
Opposite rose a straight staircase； and on the left a gallery
overlooking the garden led to the billiard room； through whose
door one could hear the click of the ivory balls。 As she crossed
it to go to the drawing room； Emma saw standing round the table
men with grave faces； their chins resting on high cravats。 They
all wore orders； and smiled silently as they made their strokes。
On the dark wainscoting of the walls large gold frames bore at
the bottom names written in black letters。 She read：
〃Jean…Antoine d'Andervilliers d'Yvervonbille； Count de la
Vaubyessard and Baron de la Fresnay； killed at the battle of
Coutras on the 20th of October； 1857。〃 And on another：
〃Jean…Antoine…Henry…Guy d'Andervilliers de la Vaubyessard；
Admiral of France and Chevalier of the Order of St。 Michael；
wounded at the battle of the Hougue…Saint…Vaast on the 29th of
May； 1692； died at Vaubyessard on the 23rd of January 1693。〃 One
could hardly make out those that followed； for the light of the
lamps lowered over the green cloth threw a dim shadow round the
room。 Burnishing the horizontal pictures； it broke up against
these in delicate lines where there were cracks in the varnish；
and from all these great black squares framed in with gold stood
out here and there some lighter portion of the paintinga pale
brow； two eyes that looked at you； perukes flowing over and
powdering red…coated shoulders； or the buckle of a garter above a
well…rounded calf。
The Marquis opened the drawing room door； one of the ladies （the
Marchioness herself） came to meet Emma。 She made her sit down by
her on an ottoman； and began talking to her as amicably as if she
had known her a long time。 She was a woman of about forty； with
fine shoulders； a hook nose； a drawling voice； and on this
evening she wore over her brown hair a simple guipure fichu that
fell in a point at the b