madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第20节

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！


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；　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