madame bovary(包法利夫人)-第68节

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the　whatnot　to　water　the　geraniums。
〃Ah！　thanks；〃　said　Charles；　〃you　are　good。〃
But　he　did　not　finish；　choking　beneath　the　crowd　of　memories　that
this　action　of　the　druggist　recalled　to　him。
Then　to　distract　him；　Homais　thought　fit　to　talk　a　little
horticulture：　plants　wanted　humidity。　Charles　bowed　his　head　in
sign　of　approbation。
〃Besides；　the　fine　days　will　soon　be　here　again。〃
〃Ah！〃　said　Bovary。
The　druggist；　at　his　wit's　end；　began　softly　to　draw　aside　the
small　window…curtain。
〃Hallo！　there's　Monsieur　Tuvache　passing。〃
Charles　repeated　like　a　machine…
〃Monsieur　Tuvache　passing！〃
Homais　did　not　dare　to　speak　to　him　again　about　the　funeral
arrangements；　it　was　the　priest　who　succeeded　in　reconciling　him
to　them。
He　shut　himself　up　in　his　consulting…room；　took　a　pen；　and　after
sobbing　for　some　time；　wrote
〃I　wish　her　to　be　buried　in　her　wedding…dress；　with　white　shoes；
and　a　wreath。　Her　hair　is　to　be　spread　out　over　her　shoulders。
Three　coffins；　one　of　oak；　one　of　mahogany；　one　of　lead。　Let　no
one　say　anything　to　me。　I　shall　have　strength。　Over　all　there　is
to　be　placed　a　large　piece　of　green　velvet。　This　is　my　wish；　see
that　it　is　done。〃
The　two　men　were　much　surprised　at　Bovary's　romantic　ideas。　The
chemist　at　once　went　to　him　and　said
〃This　velvet　seems　to　me　a　superfetation。　Besides；　the　expense〃
〃What's　that　to　you？〃　cried　Charles。　〃Leave　me！　You　did　not　love
her。　Go！〃
The　priest　took　him　by　the　arm　for　a　turn　in　the　garden。　He
discoursed　on　the　vanity　of　earthly　things。　God　was　very　great；
was　very　good：　one　must　submit　to　his　decrees　without　a　murmur；
nay；　must　even　thank　him。
Charles　burst　out　into　blasphemies：　〃I　hate　your　God！〃
〃The　spirit　of　rebellion　is　still　upon　you；〃　sighed　the
ecclesiastic。
Bovary　was　far　away。　He　was　walking　with　great　strides　along　by
the　wall；　near　the　espalier；　and　he　ground　his　teeth；　he　raised
to　heaven　looks　of　malediction；　but　not　so　much　as　a　leaf
stirred。
A　fine　rain　was　falling：　Charles；　whose　chest　was　bare；　at　last
began　to　shiver；　he　went　in　and　sat　down　in　the　kitchen。
At　six　o'clock　a　noise　like　a　clatter　of　old　iron　was　heard　on
the　Place；　it　was　the　〃Hirondelle〃　coming　in；　and　he　remained
with　his　forehead　against　the　windowpane；　watching　all　the
passengers　get　out；　one　after　the　other。　Felicite　put　down　a
mattress　for　him　in　the　drawing…room。　He　threw　himself　upon　it
and　fell　asleep。
Although　a　philosopher；　Monsieur　Homais　respected　the　dead。　So
bearing　no　grudge　to　poor　Charles；　he　came　back　again　in　the
evening　to　sit　up　with　the　body；　bringing　with　him　three　volumes
and　a　pocket…book　for　taking　notes。
Monsieur　Bournisien　was　there；　and　two　large　candles　were　burning
at　the　head　of　the　bed；　that　had　been　taken　out　of　the　alcove。
The　druggist；　on　whom　the　silence　weighed；　was　not　long　before　he
began　formulating　some　regrets　about　this　〃unfortunate　young
woman。〃　and　the　priest　replied　that　there　was　nothing　to　do　now
but　pray　for　her。
〃Yet；〃　Homais　went　on；　〃one　of　two　things；　either　she　died　in　a
state　of　grace　（as　the　Church　has　it）；　and　then　she　has　no　need
of　our　prayers；　or　else　she　departed　impertinent　（that　is；　I
believe；　the　ecclesiastical　expression）；　and　then〃
Bournisien　interrupted　him；　replying　testily　that　it　was　none　the
less　necessary　to　pray。
〃But；〃　objected　the　chemist；　〃since　God　knows　all　our　needs；　what
can　be　the　good　of　prayer？〃
〃What！〃　cried　the　ecclesiastic；　〃prayer！　Why；　aren't　you　a
Christian？〃
〃Excuse　me；〃　said　Homais；　〃I　admire　Christianity。　To　begin　with；
it　enfranchised　the　slaves；　introduced　into　the　world　a
morality〃
〃That　isn't　the　question。　All　the　texts…〃
〃Oh！　oh！　As　to　texts；　look　at　history；　it；　is　known　that　all　the
texts　have　been　falsified　by　the　Jesuits。〃
Charles　came　in；　and　advancing　towards　the　bed；　slowly　drew　the
curtains。
Emma's　head　was　turned　towards　her　right　shoulder；　the　corner　of
her　mouth；　which　was　open；　seemed　like　a　black　hole　at　the　lower
part　of　her　face；　her　two　thumbs　were　bent　into　the　palms　of　her
hands；　a　kind　of　white　dust　besprinkled　her　lashes；　and　her　eyes
were　beginning　to　disappear　in　that　viscous　pallor　that　looks
like　a　thin　web；　as　if　spiders　had　spun　it　over。　The　sheet　sunk
in　from　her　breast　to　her　knees；　and　then　rose　at　the　tips　of　her
toes；　and　it　seemed　to　Charles　that　infinite　masses；　an　enormous
load；　were　weighing　upon　her。
The　church　clock　struck　two。　They　could　hear　the　loud　murmur　of
the　river　flowing　in　the　darkness　at　the　foot　of　the　terrace。
Monsieur　Bournisien　from　time　to　time　blew　his　nose　noisily；　and
Homais'　pen　was　scratching　over　the　paper。
〃Come；　my　good　friend；〃　he　said；　〃withdraw；　this　spectacle　is
tearing　you　to　pieces。〃
Charles　once　gone；　the　chemist　and　the　cure　recommenced　their
discussions。
〃Read　Voltaire；〃　said　the　one；　〃read　D'Holbach；　read　the
'Encyclopaedia'！〃
〃Read　the　'Letters　of　some　Portuguese　Jews；'〃　said　the　other；
〃read　'The　Meaning　of　Christianity；'　by　Nicolas；　formerly　a
magistrate。〃
They　grew　warm；　they　grew　red；　they　both　talked　at　once　without
listening　to　each　other。　Bournisien　was　scandalized　at　such
audacity；　Homais　marvelled　at　such　stupidity；　and　they　were　on
the　point　of　insulting　one　another　when　Charles　suddenly
reappeared。　A　fascination　drew　him。　He　was　continually　coming
upstairs。
He　stood　opposite　her；　the　better　to　see　her；　and　he　lost　himself
in　a　contemplation　so　deep　that　it　was　no　longer　painful。
He　recalled　stories　of　catalepsy；　the　marvels　of　magnetism；　and
he　said　to　himself　that　by　willing　it　with　all　his　force　he　might
perhaps　succeed　in　reviving　her。　Once　he　even　bent　towards　he；
and　cried　in　a　low　voice；　〃Emma！　Emma！〃　His　strong　breathing　made
the　flames　of　the　candles　tremble　against　the　wall。
At　daybreak　Madame　Bovary　senior　arrived。　Charles　as　he　embraced
her　burst　into　another　flood　of　tears。　She　tried；　as　the　chemist
had　done；　to　make　some　remarks　to　him　on　the　expenses　of　the
funeral。　He　became　so　angry　that　she　was　silent；　and　he　even
commissioned　her　to　go　to　town　at　once　and　buy　what　was
necessary。
Charles　remained　alone　the　whole　afternoon；　they　had　taken　Berthe
to　Madame　Homais'；　Felicite　was　in　the　room　upstairs　with　Madame
Lefrancois。
In　the　evening　he　had　some　visitors。　He　rose；　pressed　their
hands；　unable　to　speak。　Then　they　sat　down　near　one　another；　and
formed　a　large　semicircle　in　front　of　the　fire。　With　lowered
faces；　and　swinging　one　leg　crossed　over　the　other　knee；　they
uttered　deep　sighs　at　intervals；　each　one　was　inordinately　bored；
and　yet　none　would　be　the　first　to　go。
Homais；　when　he　returned　at　nine　o'clock　（for　the　last　two　days
only　Homais　seemed　to　have　been　on　the　Place）；　was　laden　with　a
stock　of　camphor；　of　benzine；　and　aromatic　herbs。　He　also　carried
a　large　jar　full　of　chlorine　water；　to　keep　off　all　miasmata。
Just　then　the　servant；　Madame　Lefrancois；　and　Madame　Bovary
senior　were　busy　about　Emma；　finishing　dressing　her；　and　they
were　drawing　down　the　long　stiff　veil　that　covered　her　to　her
satin　shoes。
Felicite　was　sobbing〃Ah！　my　poor　mistress！　my　poor　mistress！〃
〃Look　at　her；〃　said　the　landlady；　sighing；　〃how　pretty　she　still
is！　Now；　couldn't　you　swear　she　was　going　to　get　up　in　a　minute？〃
Then　they　bent　over　her　to　put　on　her　wreath。　They　had　to　raise
the　head　a　little；　and　a　rush　of　black　liquid　issued；　as　if　she
were　vomiting；　from　her　mouth。
〃Oh；　goodness！　The　dress；　take　care！〃　cried　Madame　Lefrancois。
〃Now；　just　come　and　help；〃　she　said　to　the　chemist。　〃Perhaps
you're　afraid？〃
〃I　afraid？〃　replied　he；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃I　dare　say！
I've　seen　all　sorts　of　things　at　the　hospital　when　I　was　studying
pharmacy。　We　used　to　make　punch　in　the　dissecting　room！
Nothingness　does　not　terrify　a　philosopher；　and；　as　I　often　say；
I　even　intend　to　leave　my　body　to　the　hospitals；　in　order；　later
on；　to　serve　science。〃
The　cure　on　his　arrival　inquired　how　Monsieur　Bovary　was；　and；　on
the　reply　of　the　druggist；　went　on〃The　blow；　you　see；　is　still
too　recent。〃
Then　Homais　congratulated　him　on　not　being　exposed；　like　other
people；　to　the　loss　of　a　beloved　companion；　whence　there　followed
a　discussion　on　the　celibacy　of　priests。
〃For；〃　said　the　chemist；　〃it　is　unnatural　that　a　man　should　do
without　women！　There　have　been　crimes〃
〃But；　good　heaven！〃　cried　the　ecclesiastic；　〃how　do　you　expect　an
individual　who　is　married　to　keep　the　secrets　of　the
confessional；　for　example？〃
Homais　fell　foul　of　the　confessional。　Bournisien　defended　it；　he
enlarged　on　the　acts　of　restitution　that　it　brought　about。　He
cited　various　anecdotes　about　thieves　who　had　suddenly　become
honest。　Military　men　on　approaching　the　tribunal　of　penitence　had
felt　the　scales　fall　from　their　eyes。　At　Fribourg　there　was　a
minister
His　companion　was　asleep。　Then　he　felt　somewhat　stifled　by　the
over…heavy　atmosphere　of　the　room；　he　opened　the　window；　this
awoke　the　chemist。
〃Come；　take　a　pinch　of　snuff；〃　he　said　to　him。　〃Take　it；　it'll
relieve　you。〃
A　continual　barking　was　heard　in　the　distance。　〃Do　you　hear　that
dog　howling？〃　said　the　chemist。
〃They　smell　the　dead；〃　replied　the　priest。　〃It's　like　bees；　they
leave　their　hives　on　the　decease　of　any　person。〃
Homais　made　no　remark　upon　t