第21章

“Itisverystrange，“thoughtEmma，“howuglythischildis!“

Whenateleveno’clockCharlescamebackfromthechemist’sshop，whitherhehadgoneafterdinnertoreturntheremainderofthesticking-plaster，hefoundhiswifestandingbythecradle。

“Iassureyouit’snothing。“hesaid，kissingherontheforehead。“Don’tworry，mypoordarling；youwillmakeyourselfill。“

Hehadstayedalongtimeatthechemist’s。Althoughhehadnotseemedmuchmoved，Homais，nevertheless，hadexertedhimselftobuoyhimup，to“keepuphisspirits。“Thentheyhadtalkedofthevariousdangersthatthreatenchildhood，ofthecarelessnessofservants。MadameHomaisknewsomethingofit，havingstilluponherchestthemarksleftbyabasinfullofsoupthatacookhadformerlydroppedonherpinafore，andhergoodparentstooknoendoftroubleforher。Thekniveswerenotsharpened，northefloorswaxed；therewereirongratingstothewindowsandstrongbarsacrossthefireplace；thelittleHomais，inspiteoftheirspirit，couldnotstirwithoutsomeonewatchingthem；attheslightestcoldtheirfatherstuffedthemwithpectorals；anduntiltheywereturnedfourtheyall，withoutpity，hadtowearwaddedhead-protectors。This，itistrue，wasafancyofMadameHomais’；herhusbandwasinwardlyafflictedatit。Fearingthepossibleconsequencesofsuchcompressiontotheintellectualorgans。Heevenwentsofarastosaytoher，“DoyouwanttomakeCaribsorBotocudosofthem？“

Charles，however，hadseveraltimestriedtointerrupttheconversation。“Ishouldliketospeaktoyou，“hehadwhisperedintheclerk’sear，whowentupstairsinfrontofhim。

“Canhesuspectanything？“Leonaskedhimself。Hisheartbeat，andherackedhisbrainwithsurmises。

Atlast，Charles，havingshutthedoor，askedhimtoseehimselfwhatwouldbethepriceatRouenofafinedaguerreotypes。Itwasasentimentalsurpriseheintendedforhiswife，adelicateattention——hisportraitinafrock-coat。Buthewantedfirsttoknow“howmuchitwouldbe。“TheinquirieswouldnotputMonsieurLeonout，sincehewenttotownalmosteveryweek。

Why？MonsieurHomaissuspectedsome“youngman’saffair“atthebottomofit，anintrigue。Buthewasmistaken。Leonwasafternolove-making。Hewassadderthanever，asMadameLefrancoissawfromtheamountoffoodheleftonhisplate。Tofindoutmoreaboutitshequestionedthetax-collector。Binetansweredroughlythathe“wasn’tpaidbythepolice。“

Allthesame，hiscompanionseemedverystrangetohim，forLeonoftenthrewhimselfbackinhischair，andstretchingouthisarms。Complainedvaguelyoflife。

“It’sbecauseyoudon’ttakeenoughrecreation，“saidthecollector。

“Whatrecreation？“

“IfIwereyouI’dhavealath