第5章

Charlesfastenedhishorsetoatree；heranintotheroadandwaited。Halfanhourpassed，thenhecountednineteenminutesbyhiswatch。Suddenlyanoisewasheardagainstthewall；theshutterhadbeenthrownback；thehookwasstillswinging。

Thenextdaybynineo’clockhewasatthefarm。Emmablushedasheentered，andshegavealittleforcedlaughtokeepherselfincountenance。OldRouaultembracedhisfutureson-in-law。Thediscussionofmoneymatterswasputoff；moreover，therewasplentyoftimebeforethem，asthemarriagecouldnotdecentlytakeplacetillCharleswasoutofmourning，thatistosay，aboutthespringofthenextyear。

Thewinterpassedwaitingforthis。MademoiselleRouaultwasbusywithhertrousseau。PartofitwasorderedatRouen，andshemadeherselfchemisesandnightcapsafterfashion-platesthatsheborrowed。WhenCharlesvisitedthefarmer，thepreparationsfortheweddingweretalkedover；theywonderedinwhatroomtheyshouldhavedinner；theydreamedofthenumberofdishesthatwouldbewanted，andwhatshouldbeentrees。

Emmawould，onthecontrary，havepreferredtohaveamidnightweddingwithtorches，butoldRouaultcouldnotunderstandsuchanidea。Sotherewasaweddingatwhichforty-threepersonswerepresent，atwhichtheyremainedsixteenhoursattable，beganagainthenextday，andtosomeextentonthedaysfollowing。

ChapterFourTheguestsarrivedearlyincarriages，inone-horsechaises，two-wheeledcars，oldopengigs，waggonetteswithleatherhoods，andtheyoungpeoplefromthenearervillagesincarts，inwhichtheystoodupinrows，holdingontothesidessoasnottofall，goingatatrotandwellshakenup。Somecamefromadistanceofthirtymiles，fromGoderville，fromNormanville，andfromCany。

Alltherelativesofbothfamilieshadbeeninvited，quarrelsbetweenfriendsarranged，acquaintanceslongsincelostsightofwrittento。

>Fromtimetotimeoneheardthecrackofawhipbehindthehedge；

thenthegatesopened，achaiseentered。Gallopinguptothefootofthesteps，itstoppedshortandemptieditsload。Theygotdownfromallsides，rubbingkneesandstretchingarms。Theladies，wearingbonnets，hadondressesinthetownfashion，goldwatchchains，pelerineswiththeendstuckedintobelts，orlittlecolouredfichusfasteneddownbehindwithapin，andthatleftthebackoftheneckbare。Thelads，dressedliketheirpapas，seemeduncomfortableintheirnewclothes(manythatdayhand-sewedtheirfirstpairofboots)，andbytheirsides，speakingneverawork，wearingthewhitedressoftheirfirstcommunionlengthenedfortheoccasionweresomebiggirlsoffourteenorsixteen，cousinsoreldersistersnodoubt，rubicund，bewildered，theirhairgreasywithrosepomade，andverymuchafraidofdirtyingtheirgloves。Astherewerenotenoughstable-boystounharnessallthecarriages，thegentlementurneduptheirsleevesandsetaboutitthemselves。Accordingtotheirdifferentsocialpositionstheyworetail-coats，overcoats，shootingjackets，cutaway-coats；finetail-coats，redolentoffamilyrespectability，thatonlycameoutofthewardrobeonstateoccasions；overcoatswithlongtailsflappinginthewindandroundcapesandpocketslikesacks；shootingjacketsofcoarsecloth，generallywornwithacapwithabrass-boundpeak；

veryshortcutaway-coatswithtwosmallbuttonsintheback，closetogetherlikeapairofeyes，andthetailsofwhichseemedcutoutofonepiecebyacarpenter’shatchet。Some，too(butthese，youmaybesure，wouldsitatthebottomofthetable)，woretheirbestblouses——thatistosay，withcollarsturneddowntotheshoulders，thebackgatheredintosmallplaitsandthewaistfastenedverylowdownwithaworkedbelt。

Andtheshirtsstoodoutfromthechestslikecuirasses!Everyonehadjusthadhishaircut；earsstoodoutfromtheheads；theyhadbeenclose-shaved；afew，even，whohadhadtogetupbeforedaybreak，andnotbeenabletoseetoshave，haddiagonalgashesundertheirnosesorcutsthesizeofathree-francpiecealongthejaws，whichthefreshairenroutehadenflamed，sothatthegreatwhitebeamingfacesweremottledhereandtherewithreddabs。

Themairiewasamileandahalffromthefarm，andtheywentthitheronfoot，returninginthesamewayaftertheceremonyinthechurch。Theprocession，firstunitedlikeonelongcolouredscarfthatundulatedacrossthefields，alongthenarrowpathwindingamidthegreencorn，soonlengthenedout，andbrokeupintodifferentgroupsthatloiteredtotalk。Thefiddlerwalkedinfrontwithhisviolin，gaywithribbonsatitspegs。Thencamethemarriedpair，therelations，thefriends，allfollowingpell-mell；thechildrenstayedbehindamusingthemselvespluckingthebell-flowersfromoat-ears，orplayingamongstthemselvesunseen。Emma’sdress，toolong，trailedalittleontheground；

fromtimetotimeshestoppedtopullitup，andthendelicately，withherglovedhands，shepickedoffthecoarsegrassandthethistledowns，whileCharles，emptyhanded，waitedtillshehadfinished。OldRouault，withanewsilkhatandthecuffsofhisblackcoatcoveringhishandsuptothenails，gavehisarmtoMadameBovarysenior。AstoMonsieurBovarysenior，who，heartilydespisingallthesefolk，hadcomesimplyinafrock-coatofmilitarycutwithonerowofbuttons——hewaspassingcomplimentsofthebartoafairyoungpeasant。Shebowed，blushed，anddidnotknowwhattosay。Theotherweddinggueststalkedoftheirbusinessorplayedtricksbehindeachother’sbacks，eggingoneanotheroninadvancetobejolly。Thosewholistenedcouldalwayscatchthesqueakingofthefiddler，whowentonplayingacrossthefields。Whenhesawthattherestwerefarbehindhestoppedtotakebreath，slowlyrosinedhisbow，sothatthestringsshouldsoundmoreshrilly，thensetoffagain，byturnsloweringandraisinghisneck，thebettertomarktimeforhimself。Thenoiseoftheinstrumentdroveawaythelittlebirdsfromafar。

Thetablewaslaidunderthecart-shed。Onitwerefoursirloins，sixchickenfricassees，stewedveal，threelegsofmutton，andinthemiddleafineroastsucklingpig，flankedbyfourchitterlingswithsorrel。Atthecornersweredecantersofbrandy。Sweetbottled-ciderfrothedroundthecorks，andalltheglasseshadbeenfilledtothebrimwithwinebeforehand。Largedishesofyellowcream，thattrembledwiththeleastshakeofthetable，haddesignedontheirsmoothsurfacetheinitialsofthenewlyweddedpairinnonpareilarabesques。AconfectionerofYvetothadbeenintrustedwiththetartsandsweets。Ashehadonlyjustsetupontheplace，hehadtakenalotoftrouble，andatdesserthehimselfbroughtinasetdishthatevokedloudcriesofwonderment。Tobeginwith，atitsbasetherewasasquareofbluecardboard，representingatemplewithporticoes，colonnades，andstuccostatuettesallround，andinthenichesconstellationsofgiltpaperstars；thenonthesecondstagewasadungeonofSavoycake，surroundedbymanyfortificationsincandiedangelica，almonds，raisins，andquartersoforanges；andfinally，ontheupperplatformagreenfieldwithrockssetinlakesofjam，nutshellboats，andasmallCupidbalancinghimselfinachocolateswingwhosetwouprightsendedinrealrosesforballsatthetop。

Untilnighttheyate。Whenanyofthemweretootiredofsitting，theywentoutforastrollintheyard，orforagamewithcorksinthegranary，andthenreturnedtotable。Sometowardsthefinishwenttosleepandsnored。Butwiththecoffeeeveryonewokeup。Thentheybegansongs，showedofftricks，raisedheavyweights，performedfeatswiththeirfingers，thentriedliftingcartsontheirshoulders，madebroadjokes，kissedthewomen。Atnightwhentheyleft，thehorses，stuffeduptothenostrilswithoats，couldhardlybegotintotheshafts；theykicked，reared，theharnessbroke，theirmasterslaughedorswore；andallnightinthelightofthemoonalongcountryroadstherewererunawaycartsatfullgallopplungingintotheditches，jumpingoveryardafteryardofstones，clamberingupthehills，withwomenleaningoutfromthetilttocatchholdofthereins。

ThosewhostayedattheBertauxspentthenightdrinkinginthekitchen。Thechildrenhadfallenasleepundertheseats。

Thebridehadbeggedherfathertobesparedtheusualmarriagepleasantries。However，afishmonger，oneoftheircousins(whohadevenbroughtapairofsolesforhisweddingpresent)，begantosquirtwaterfromhismouththroughthekeyhole，whenoldRouaultcameupjustintimetostophim，andexplaintohimthatthedistinguishedpositionofhisson-in-lawwouldnotallowofsuchliberties。Thecousinallthesamedidnotgiveintothesereasonsreadily。InhisheartheaccusedoldRouaultofbeingproud，andhejoinedfourorfiveotherguestsinacorner，whohaving，throughmerechance，beenseveraltimesrunningservedwiththeworsthelpsofmeat，alsowereofopiniontheyhadbeenbadlyused，andwerewhisperingabouttheirhost，andwithcoveredhintshopinghewouldruinhimself。

MadameBovary，senior，hadnotopenedhermouthallday。Shehadbeenconsultedneitherastothedressofherdaughter-in-lawnorastothearrangementofthefeast；shewenttobedearly。Herhusband，insteadoffollowingher，senttoSaint-Victorforsomecigars，andsmokedtilldaybreak，drinkingkirsch-punch，amixtureunknowntothecompany。Thisaddedgreatlytotheconsiderationinwhichhewasheld。

Charles，whowasnotofafacetiousturn，didnotshineatthewedding。Heansweredfeeblytothepuns，doublesentendres*，compliments，andchaffthatitwasfeltadutytoletoffathimassoonasthesoupappeared。

*Doublemeanings。

Thenextday，ontheotherhand，heseemedanotherman。Itwashewhomightratherhavebeentakenforthevirginoftheeveningbefore，whilstthebridegavenosignthatrevealedanything。Theshrewdestdidnotknowwhattomakeofit，andtheylookedatherwhenshepassednearthemwithanunboundedconcentrationofmind。ButCharlesconcealednothing。Hecalledher“mywife“，tutoyed*her，askedforherofeveryone，lookedforhereverywhere，andoftenhedraggedherintotheyards，wherehecouldbeseenfromfarbetweenthetrees，puttinghisarmaroundherwaist，andwalkinghalf-bendingoverher，rufflingthechemisetteofherbodicewithhishead。

*Usedthefamiliarformofaddress。

Twodaysaftertheweddingthemarriedpairleft。Charles，onaccountofhispatients，couldnotbeawaylonger。OldRouaulthadthemdrivenbackinhiscart，andhimselfaccompaniedthemasfarasVassonville。Hereheembracedhisdaughterforthelasttime，gotdown，andwenthisway。Whenhehadgoneaboutahundredpaceshestopped，andashesawthecartdisappearing，itswheelsturninginthedust，hegaveadeepsigh。Thenherememberedhiswedding，theoldtimes，thefirstpregnancyofhiswife；he，too，hadbeenveryhappythedaywhenhehadtakenherfromherfathertohishome，andhadcarriedheroffonapillion，trottingthroughthesnow，foritwasnearChristmas-time，andthecountrywasallwhite。Sheheldhimbyonearm，herbaskethangingfromtheother；thewindblewthelonglaceofherCauchoisheaddresssothatitsometimesflappedacrosshismouth，andwhenheturnedhisheadhesawnearhim，onhisshoulder，herlittlerosyface，smilingsilentlyunderthegoldbandsofhercap。Towarmherhandssheputthemfromtimetotimeinhisbreast。Howlongagoitallwas!Theirsonwouldhavebeenthirtybynow。Thenhelookedbackandsawnothingontheroad。Hefeltdrearyasanemptyhouse；andtendermemoriesminglingwiththesadthoughtsinhisbrain，addledbythefumesofthefeast，hefeltinclinedforamomenttotakeaturntowardsthechurch。Ashewasafraid，however，thatthissightwouldmakehimyetmoresad，hewentrightawayhome。

MonsieurandMadameCharlesarrivedatTostesaboutsixo’clock。

Theneighborscametothewindowstoseetheirdoctor’snewwife。

Theoldservantpresentedherself，curtsiedtoher，apologisedfornothavingdinnerready，andsuggestedthatmadame，inthemeantime，shouldlookoverherhouse。