第22章

MadameBovaryhadopenedherwindowoverlookingthegardenandwatchedtheclouds。TheygatheredaroundthesunsetonthesideofRouenandthenswiftlyrolledbacktheirblackcolumns，behindwhichthegreatraysofthesunlookedoutlikethegoldenarrowsofasuspendedtrophy，whiletherestoftheemptyheavenswaswhiteasporcelain。Butagustofwindbowedthepoplars，andsuddenlytherainfell；itpatteredagainstthegreenleaves。

Thenthesunreappeared，thehensclucked，sparrowsshooktheirwingsinthedampthickets，andthepoolsofwateronthegravelastheyflowedawaycarriedoffthepinkflowersofanacacia。

“Ah!howfaroffhemustbealready!“shethought。

MonsieurHomais，asusual，cameathalf-pastsixduringdinner。

“Well，“saidhe，“sowe’vesentoffouryoungfriend!“

“Soitseems，“repliedthedoctor。Thenturningonhischair；

“Anynewsathome？“

“Nothingmuch。Onlymywifewasalittlemovedthisafternoon。

Youknowwomen——anothingupsetsthem，especiallymywife。Andweshouldbewrongtoobjecttothat，sincetheirnervousorganizationismuchmoremalleablethanours。“

“PoorLeon!“saidCharles。“HowwillheliveatParis？Willhegetusedtoit？“

MadameBovarysighed。

“Getalong!“saidthechemist，smackinghislips。“Theoutingsatrestaurants，themaskedballs，thechampagne——allthat’llbejollyenough，Iassureyou。“

“Idon’tthinkhe’llgowrong，“objectedBovary。

“NordoI，“saidMonsieurHomaisquickly；“althoughhe’llhavetodoliketherestforfearofpassingforaJesuit。Andyoudon’tknowwhatalifethosedogsleadintheLatinquarterwithactresses。Besides，studentsarethoughtagreatdealofinParis。Providedtheyhaveafewaccomplishments，theyarereceivedinthebestsociety；thereareevenladiesoftheFaubourgSaint-Germainwhofallinlovewiththem，whichsubsequentlyfurnishesthemopportunitiesformakingverygoodmatches。“

“But，“saidthedoctor，“Ifearforhimthatdownthere——“

“Youareright，“interruptedthechemist；“thatisthereverseofthemedal。Andoneisconstantlyobligedtokeepone’shandinone’spocketthere。Thus，wewillsupposeyouareinapublicgarden。Anindividualpresentshimself，welldressed，evenwearinganorder，andwhomonewouldtakeforadiplomatist。Heapproachesyou，heinsinuateshimself；offersyouapinchofsnuff，orpicksupyourhat。Thenyoubecomemoreintimate；hetakesyoutoacafe，invitesyoutohiscountry-house，introducesyou，betweentwodrinks，toallsortsofpeople；andthree-fourthsofthetimeit’sonlytoplunderyourwatchorleadyouintosomeperniciousstep。

“Thatistrue，“saidCharles；“butIwasthinkingespeciallyofillnesses——oftyphoidfever，forexample，thatattacksstudentsfromtheprovinces。“

Emmashuddered。

“Becauseofthechangeofregimen，“continuedthechemist，“andoftheperturbationthatresultstherefrominthewholesystem。

AndthenthewateratParis，don’tyouknow!Thedishesatrestaurants，allthespicedfood，endbyheatingtheblood，andarenotworth，whateverpeoplemaysayofthem，agoodsoup。Formyownpart，Ihavealwayspreferredplainliving；itismorehealthy。SowhenIwasstudyingpharmacyatRouen，Iboardedinaboardinghouse；Idinedwiththeprofessors