第2章

*Adevotionsaidatmorning，noon，andevening，atthesoundofabell。Here，theeveningprayer。

Charlescouldnotgoonlikethis。MadameBovarytookstrongsteps。Ashamed，orrathertiredout，MonsieurBovarygaveinwithoutastruggle，andtheywaitedoneyearlonger，sothattheladshouldtakehisfirstcommunion。

Sixmonthsmorepassed，andtheyearafterCharleswasfinallysenttoschoolatRouen，wherehisfathertookhimtowardstheendofOctober，atthetimeoftheSt。Romainfair。

Itwouldnowbeimpossibleforanyofustorememberanythingabouthim。Hewasayouthofeventemperament，whoplayedinplaytime，workedinschool-hours，wasattentiveinclass，sleptwellinthedormitory，andatewellintherefectory。Hehadinlocoparentis*awholesaleironmongerintheRueGanterie，whotookhimoutonceamonthonSundaysafterhisshopwasshut，senthimforawalkonthequaytolookattheboats，andthenbroughthimbacktocollegeatseveno’clockbeforesupper。EveryThursdayeveninghewrotealonglettertohismotherwithredinkandthreewafers；thenhewentoverhishistorynote-books，orreadanoldvolumeof“Anarchasis“thatwasknockingaboutthestudy。Whenhewentforwalkshetalkedtotheservant，who，likehimself，camefromthecountry。

*Inplaceofaparent。

Bydintofhardworkhekeptalwaysaboutthemiddleoftheclass；onceevenhegotacertificateinnaturalhistory。Butattheendofhisthirdyearhisparentswithdrewhimfromtheschooltomakehimstudymedicine，convincedthathecouldeventakehisdegreebyhimself。

Hismotherchosearoomforhimonthefourthfloorofadyer’ssheknew，overlookingtheEau-de-Robec。Shemadearrangementsforhisboard，gothimfurniture，tableandtwochairs，senthomeforanoldcherry-treebedstead，andboughtbesidesasmallcast-ironstovewiththesupplyofwoodthatwastowarmthepoorchild。

Thenattheendofaweekshedeparted，afterathousandinjunctionstobegoodnowthathewasgoingtobelefttohimself。

Thesyllabusthathereadonthenotice-boardstunnedhim；

lecturesonanatomy，lecturesonpathology，lecturesonphysiology，lecturesonpharmacy，lecturesonbotanyandclinicalmedicine，andtherapeutics，withoutcountinghygieneandmateriamedica——allnamesofwhoseetymologieshewasignorant，andthatweretohimassomanydoorstosanctuariesfilledwithmagnificentdarkness。

Heunderstoodnothingofitall；itwasallverywelltolisten——

hedidnotfollow。Stillheworked；hehadboundnote-books，heattendedallthecourses，nevermissedasinglelecture。Hedidhislittledailytasklikeamill-horse，whogoesroundandroundwithhiseyesbandaged，notknowingwhatworkheisdoing。

Tosparehimexpensehismothersenthimeveryweekbythecarrierapieceofvealbakedintheoven，withwhichhelunchedwhenhecamebackfromthehospital，whilehesatkickinghisfeetagainstthewall。Afterthishehadtorunofftolectures，totheoperation-room，tothehospital，andreturntohishomeattheotherendofthetown。Intheevening，afterthepoordinnerofhislandlord，hewentbacktohisroomandsettoworkagaininhiswetclothes，whichsmokedashesatinfrontofthehotstove。

Onthefinesummerevenings，atthetimewhentheclosestreetsareempty，whentheservantsareplayingshuttle-cockatthedoors，heopenedhiswindowandleanedout。Theriver，thatmakesofthisquarterofRouenawretchedlittleVenice，flowedbeneathhim，betweenthebridgesandtherailings，yellow，violet，orblue。Workingmen，kneelingonthebanks，washedtheirbarearmsinthewater。Onpolesprojectingfromtheattics，skeinsofcottonweredryingintheair。Opposite，beyondtherootsspreadthepureheavenwiththeredsunsetting。Howpleasantitmustbeathome!Howfreshunderthebeech-tree!Andheexpandedhisnostrilstobreatheinthesweetodoursofthecountrywhichdidnotreachhim。

Hegrewthin，hisfigurebecametaller，hisfacetookasaddenedlookthatmadeitnearlyinteresting。Naturally，throughindifference，heabandonedalltheresolutionshehadmade。Oncehemissedalecture；thenextdayallthelectures；and，enjoyinghisidleness，littlebylittle，hegaveupworkaltogether。Hegotintothehabitofgoingtothepublic-house，andhadapassionfordominoes。Toshuthimselfupeveryeveninginthedirtypublicroom，topushaboutonmarbletablesthesmallsheepboneswithblackdots，seemedtohimafineproofofhisfreedom，whichraisedhiminhisownesteem。Itwasbeginningtoseelife，thesweetnessofstolenpleasures；andwhenheentered，heputhishandonthedoor-handlewithajoyalmostsensual。Thenmanythingshiddenwithinhimcameout；helearntcoupletsbyheartandsangthemtohisbooncompanions，becameenthusiasticaboutBeranger，learnthowtomakepunch，and，finally，howtomakelove。

Thankstothesepreparatorylabours，hefailedcompletelyinhisexaminationforanordinarydegree。Hewasexpectedhomethesamenighttocelebratehissuccess。Hestartedonfoot，stoppedatthebeginningofthevillage，sentforhismother，andtoldherall。Sheexcusedhim，threwtheblameofhisfailureontheinjusticeoftheexaminers，encouragedhimalittle，andtookuponherselftosetmattersstraight。ItwasonlyfiveyearslaterthatMonsieurBovaryknewthetruth；itwasoldthen，andheacceptedit。Moreover，hecouldnotbelievethatamanbornofhimcouldbeafool。

SoCharlessettoworkagainandcrammedforhisexamination，ceaselesslylearningalltheoldquestionsbyheart。Hepassedprettywell。Whatahappydayforhismother!Theygaveagranddinner。

Whereshouldhegotopractice？ToTostes，wheretherewasonlyoneolddoctor。ForalongtimeMadameBovaryhadbeenonthelook-outforhisdeath，andtheoldfellowhadbarelybeenpackedoffwhenCharleswasinstalled，oppositehisplace，ashissuccessor。

Butitwasnoteverythingtohavebroughtupason，tohavehadhimtaughtmedicine，anddiscoveredTostes，wherehecouldpracticeit；hemusthaveawife。Shefoundhimone——thewidowofabailiffatDieppe——whowasforty-fiveandhadanincomeoftwelvehundredfrancs。Thoughshewasugly，asdryasabone，herfacewithasmanypimplesasthespringhasbuds，MadameDubuchadnolackofsuitors。ToattainherendsMadameBovaryhadtooustthemall，andsheevensucceededinverycleverlybafflingtheintriguesofaport-butcherbackedupbythepriests。

Charleshadseeninmarriagetheadventofaneasierlife，thinkinghewouldbemorefreetodoashelikedwithhimselfandhismoney。Buthiswifewasmaster；hehadtosaythisandnotsaythatincompany，tofasteveryFriday，dressassheliked，harassatherbiddingthosepatientswhodidnotpay。Sheopenedhisletter，watchedhiscomingsandgoings，andlistenedatthepartition-wallwhenwomencametoconsulthiminhissurgery。

Shemusthaveherchocolateeverymorning，attentionswithoutend。Sheconstantlycomplainedofhernerves，herchest，herliver。Thenoiseoffootstepsmadeherill；whenpeoplelefther，solitudebecameodioustoher；iftheycameback，itwasdoubtlesstoseeherdie。WhenCharlesreturnedintheevening，shestretchedforthtwolongthinarmsfrombeneaththesheets，putthemroundhisneck，andhavingmadehimsitdownontheedgeofthebed，begantotalktohimofhertroubles：hewasneglectingher，helovedanother。Shehadbeenwarnedshewouldbeunhappy；andsheendedbyaskinghimforadoseofmedicineandalittlemorelove。

nighttowardseleveno’clocktheywereawakenedbythenoiseofahorsepullingupoutsidetheirdoor。Theservantopenedthegarret-windowandparleyedforsometimewithamaninthestreetbelow。Hecameforthedoctor，hadaletterforhim。Natasiecamedownstairsshiveringandundidthebarsandboltsoneaftertheother。Themanlefthishorse，and，followingtheservant，suddenlycameinbehindher。Hepulledoutfromhiswoolcapwithgreytop-knotsaletterwrappedupinaragandpresenteditgingerlytoCharles，whorestedonhiselbowonthepillowtoreadit。Natasie，standingnearthebed，heldthelight。Madameinmodestyhadturnedtothewallandshowedonlyherback。

Thisletter，sealedwithasmallsealinbluewax，beggedMonsieurBovarytocomeimmediatelytothefarmoftheBertauxtosetabrokenleg。NowfromTostestotheBertauxwasagoodeighteenmilesacrosscountrybywayofLonguevilleandSaint-Victor。Itwasadarknight；MadameBovaryjuniorwasafraidofaccidentsforherhusband。Soitwasdecidedthestable-boyshouldgoonfirst；Charleswouldstartthreehourslaterwhenthemoonrose。Aboywastobesenttomeethim，andshowhimthewaytothefarm，andopenthegatesforhim。

Towardsfouro’clockinthemorning，Charles，wellwrappedupinhiscloak，setoutfortheBertaux。Stillsleepyfromthewarmthofhisbed，helethimselfbelulledbythequiettrotofhishorse。Whenitstoppedofitsownaccordinfrontofthoseholessurroundedwiththornsthataredugonthemarginoffurrows，Charlesawokewithastart，suddenlyrememberedthebrokenleg，andtriedtocalltomindallthefracturesheknew。Therainhadstopped，daywasbreaking，andonthebranchesoftheleaflesstreesbirdsroostedmotionless，theirlittlefeathersbristlinginthecoldmorningwind。Theflatcountrystretchedasfaraseyecouldsee，andthetuftsoftreesroundthefarmsatlongintervalsseemedlikedarkvioletstainsonthecastgreysurface，thatonthehorizonfadedintothegloomofthesky。

Charlesfromtimetotimeopenedhiseyes，hismindgrewweary，and，sleepcominguponhim，hesoonfellintoadozewherein，hisrecentsensationsblendingwithmemories，hebecameconsciousofadoubleself，atoncestudentandmarriedman，lyinginhisbedasbutnow，andcrossingtheoperationtheatreasofold。Thewarmsmellofpoulticesmingledinhisbrainwiththefreshodourofdew；heheardtheironringsrattlingalongthecurtain-rodsofthebedandsawhiswifesleeping。AshepassedVassonvillehecameuponaboysittingonthegrassattheedgeofaditch。

“Areyouthedoctor？“askedthechild。

AndonCharles’sanswerhetookhiswoodenshoesinhishandsandranoninfrontofhim。

Thegeneralpractitioner，ridingalong，gatheredfromhisguide’stalkthatMonsieurRouaultmustbeoneofthewell-to-dofarmers。

HehadbrokenhislegtheeveningbeforeonhiswayhomefromaTwelfth-nightfeastataneighbour’s。Hiswifehadbeendeadfortwoyears。Therewaswithhimonlyhisdaughter，whohelpedhimtokeephouse。

Therutswerebecomingdeeper；theywereapproachingtheBertaux。

Thelittlelad，slippingthroughaholeinthehedge，disappeared；thenhecamebacktotheendofacourtyardtoopenthegate。Thehorseslippedonthewetgrass；Charleshadtostooptopassunderthebranches。Thewatchdogsintheirkennelsbarked，draggingattheirchains。AsheenteredtheBertaux，thehorsetookfrightandstumbled。