madame bovary-第11节

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evening　she　wore　over　her　brown　hair　a　simple　guipure　fichu　that
fell　in　a　point　at　the　back。　A　fair　young　woman　sat　in　a
high…backed　chair　in　a　corner；　and　gentlemen　with　flowers　in
their　buttonholes　were　talking　to　ladies　round　the　fire。

At　seven　dinner　was　served。　The　men；　who　were　in　the　majority；
sat　down　at　the　first　table　in　the　vestibule；　the　ladies　at　the
second　in　the　dining　room　with　the　Marquis　and　Marchioness。

Emma；　on　entering；　felt　herself　wrapped　round　by　the　warm　air；　a
blending　of　the　perfume　of　flowers　and　of　the　fine　linen；　of　the
fumes　of　the　viands；　and　the　odour　of　the　truffles。　The　silver
dish　covers　reflected　the　lighted　wax　candles　in　the　candelabra；
the　cut　crystal　covered　with　light　steam　reflected　from　one　to
the　other　pale　rays；　bouquets　were　placed　in　a　row　the　whole
length　of　the　table；　and　in　the　large…bordered　plates　each
napkin；　arranged　after　the　fashion　of　a　bishop's　mitre；　held
between　its　two　gaping　folds　a　small　oval　shaped　roll。　The　red
claws　of　lobsters　hung　over　the　dishes；　rich　fruit　in　open
baskets　was　piled　up　on　moss；　there　were　quails　in　their　plumage；
smoke　was　rising；　and　in　silk　stockings；　knee…breeches；　white
cravat；　and　frilled　shirt；　the　steward；　grave　as　a　judge；
offering　ready　carved　dishes　between　the　shoulders　of　the　guests；
with　a　touch　of　the　spoon　gave　you　the　piece　chosen。　On　the　large
stove　of　porcelain　inlaid　with　copper　baguettes　the　statue　of　a
woman；　draped　to　the　chin；　gazed　motionless　on　the　room　full　of
life。

Madame　Bovary　noticed　that　many　ladies　had　not　put　their　gloves
in　their　glasses。

But　at　the　upper　end　of　the　table；　alone　amongst　all　these　women；
bent　over　his　full　plate；　and　his　napkin　tied　round　his　neck　like
a　child；　an　old　man　sat　eating；　letting　drops　of　gravy　drip　from
his　mouth。　His　eyes　were　bloodshot；　and　he　wore　a　little　queue
tied　with　black　ribbon。　He　was　the　Marquis's　father…in…law；　the
old　Duke　de　Laverdiere；　once　on　a　time　favourite　of　the　Count
d'Artois；　in　the　days　of　the　Vaudreuil　hunting…parties　at　the
Marquis　de　Conflans'；　and　had　been；　it　was　said；　the　lover　of
Queen　Marie　Antoinette；　between　Monsieur　de　Coigny　and　Monsieur
de　Lauzun。　He　had　lived　a　life　of　noisy　debauch；　full　of　duels；
bets；　elopements；　he　had　squandered　his　fortune　and　frightened
all　his　family。　A　servant　behind　his　chair　named　aloud　to　him　in
his　ear　the　dishes　that　he　pointed　to　stammering；　and　constantly
Emma's　eyes　turned　involuntarily　to　this　old　man　with　hanging
lips；　as　to　something　extraordinary。　He　had　lived　at　court　and
slept　in　the　bed　of　queens！　Iced　champagne　was　poured　out。　Emma
shivered　all　over　as　she　felt　it　cold　in　her　mouth。　She　had　never
seen　pomegranates　nor　tasted　pineapples。　The　powdered　sugar　even
seemed　to　her　whiter　and　finer　than　elsewhere。

The　ladies　afterwards　went　to　their　rooms　to　prepare　for　the
ball。

Emma　made　her　toilet　with　the　fastidious　care　of　an　actress　on
her　debut。　She　did　her　hair　according　to　the　directions　of　the
hairdresser；　and　put　on　the　barege　dress　spread　out　upon　the　bed。

Charles's　trousers　were　tight　across　the　belly。

〃My　trouser…straps　will　be　rather　awkward　for　dancing；〃　he　said。

〃Dancing？〃　repeated　Emma。

〃Yes！〃

〃Why；　you　must　be　mad！　They　would　make　fun　of　you；　keep　your
place。　Besides；　it　is　more　becoming　for　a　doctor；〃　she　added。

Charles　was　silent。　He　walked　up　and　down　waiting　for　Emma　to
finish　dressing。

He　saw　her　from　behind　in　the　glass　between　two　lights。　Her　black
eyes　seemed　blacker　than　ever。　Her　hair；　undulating　towards　the
ears；　shone　with　a　blue　lustre；　a　rose　in　her　chignon　trembled　on
its　mobile　stalk；　with　artificial　dewdrops　on　the　tip　of　the
leaves。　She　wore　a　gown　of　pale　saffron　trimmed　with　three
bouquets　of　pompon　roses　mixed　with　green。

Charles　came　and　kissed　her　on　her　shoulder。

〃Let　me　alone！〃　she　said；　〃you　are　tumbling　me。〃

One　could　hear　the　flourish　of　the　violin　and　the　notes　of　a
horn。　She　went　downstairs　restraining　herself　from　running。

Dancing　had　begun。　Guests　were　arriving。　There　was　some　crushing。

She　sat　down　on　a　form　near　the　door。

The　quadrille　over；　the　floor　was　occupied　by　groups　of　men
standing　up　and　talking　and　servants　in　livery　bearing　large
trays。　Along　the　line　of　seated　women　painted　fans　were
fluttering；　bouquets　half　hid　smiling　faces；　and　gold　stoppered
scent…bottles　were　turned　in　partly…closed　hands；　whose　white
gloves　outlined　the　nails　and　tightened　on　the　flesh　at　the
wrists。　Lace　trimmings；　diamond　brooches；　medallion　bracelets
trembled　on　bodices；　gleamed　on　breasts；　clinked　on　bare　arms。

The　hair；　well…smoothed　over　the　temples　and　knotted　at　the　nape；
bore　crowns；　or　bunches；　or　sprays　of　mytosotis；　jasmine；
pomegranate　blossoms；　ears　of　corn；　and　corn…flowers。　Calmly
seated　in　their　places；　mothers　with　forbidding　countenances　were
wearing　red　turbans。

Emma's　heart　beat　rather　faster　when；　her　partner　holding　her　by
the　tips　of　the　fingers；　she　took　her　place　in　a　line　with　the
dancers；　and　waited　for　the　first　note　to　start。　But　her　emotion
soon　vanished；　and；　swaying　to　the　rhythm　of　the　orchestra；　she
glided　forward　with　slight　movements　of　the　neck。　A　smile　rose　to
her　lips　at　certain　delicate　phrases　of　the　violin；　that
sometimes　played　alone　while　the　other　instruments　were　silent；
one　could　hear　the　clear　clink　of　the　louis　d'or　that　were　being
thrown　down　upon　the　card　tables　in　the　next　room；　then　all
struck　again；　the　cornet…a…piston　uttered　its　sonorous　note；　feet
marked　time；　skirts　swelled　and　rustled；　hands　touched　and
parted；　the　same　eyes　falling　before　you　met　yours　again。

A　few　men　（some　fifteen　or　so）；　of　twenty…five　to　forty；
scattered　here　and　there　among　the　dancers　or　talking　at　the
doorways；　distinguished　themselves　from　the　crowd　by　a　certain
air　of　breeding；　whatever　their　differences　in　age；　dress；　or
face。

Their　clothes；　better　made；　seemed　of　finer　cloth；　and　their
hair；　brought　forward　in　curls　towards　the　temples；　glossy　with
more　delicate　pomades。　They　had　the　complexion　of　wealththat
clear　complexion　that　is　heightened　by　the　pallor　of　porcelain；
the　shimmer　of　satin；　the　veneer　of　old　furniture；　and　that　an
ordered　regimen　of　exquisite　nurture　maintains　at　its　best。　Their
necks　moved　easily　in　their　low　cravats；　their　long　whiskers　fell
over　their　turned…down　collars；　they　wiped　their　lips　upon
handkerchiefs　with　embroidered　initials　that　gave　forth　a　subtle
perfume。　Those　who　were　beginning　to　grow　old　had　an　air　of
youth；　while　there　was　something　mature　in　the　faces　of　the
young。　In　their　unconcerned　looks　was　the　calm　of　passions　daily
satiated；　and　through　all　their　gentleness　of　manner　pierced　that
peculiar　brutality；　the　result　of　a　command　of　half…easy　things；
in　which　force　is　exercised　and　vanity　amusedthe　management　of
thoroughbred　horses　and　the　society　of　loose　women。

A　few　steps　from　Emma　a　gentleman　in　a　blue　coat　was　talking　of
Italy　with　a　pale　young　woman　wearing　a　parure　of　pearls。

They　were　praising　the　breadth　of　the　columns　of　St。　Peter's；
Tivoly；　Vesuvius；　Castellamare；　and　Cassines；　the　roses　of　Genoa；
the　Coliseum　by　moonlight。　With　her　other　ear　Emma　was　listening
to　a　conversation　full　of　words　she　did　not　understand。　A　circle
gathered　round　a　very　young　man　who　the　week　before　had　beaten
〃Miss　Arabella〃　and　〃Romolus；〃　and　won　two　thousand　louis　jumping
a　ditch　in　England。　One　complained　that　his　racehorses　were
growing　fat；　another　of　the　printers'　errors　that　had　disfigured
the　name　of　his　horse。

The　atmosphere　of　the　ball　was　heavy；　the　lamps　were　growing　dim。

Guests　were　flocking　to　the　billiard　room。　A　servant　got　upon　a
chair　and　broke　the　window…panes。　At　the　crash　of　the　glass
Madame　Bovary　turned　her　head　and　saw　in　the　garden　the　faces　of
peasants　pressed　against　the　window　looking　in　at　them。　Then　the
memory　of　the　Bertaux　came　back　to　her。　She　saw　the　farm　again；
the　muddy　pond；　her　father　in　a　blouse　under　the　apple　trees；　and
she　saw　herself　again　as　formerly；　skimming　with　her　finger　the
cream　off　the　milk…pans　in　the　dairy。　But　in　the　refulgence　of
the　present　hour　her　past　life；　so　distinct　until　then；　faded
away　completely；　and　she　almost　doubted　having　lived　it。　She　was
there；　beyond　the　ball　was　only　shadow　overspreading　all　the
rest。　She　was　just　eating　a　maraschino　ice　that　she　held　with　her
left　hand　in　a　silver…gilt　cup；　her　eyes　half…closed；　and　the
spoon　between　her　teeth。

A　lady　near　her　dropped　her　fan。　A　gentlemen　was　passing。

〃Would　you　be　so　good；〃　said　the　lady；　〃as　to　pick　up　my　fan　that
has　fallen　behind　the　sofa？〃

The　gentleman　bowed；　and　as　he　moved　to　stretch　out　his　arm；　Emma
saw　the　hand　of　a　young　woman　throw　something　white；　folded　in　a
triangle；　into　his　hat。　The　gentleman；　picking　up　the　fan；
offered　it　to　the　lady　respectfully；　she　thanked　him　with　an
inclination　of　the　head；　and　began　smelling　her　bouquet。

After　supper；　where　were　plenty　of　Spanish　and　Rhine　wines；　soups
a　la　bisque　and　au　lait　d'amandes*；　puddings　a　la　Trafalgar；　and
all　sorts　of　cold　meats　with　jellies　that　trembled　in　the　dishes；
the　carriages　one　after　the　other　bega