第30章

Atdinnerherhusbandthoughtshelookedwell，butshepretendednottohearhimwhenheinquiredaboutherride，andsheremainedsittingtherewithherelbowatthesideofherplatebetweenthetwolightedcandles。

“Emma!“hesaid。

“What？“

“Well，IspenttheafternoonatMonsieurAlexandre’s。Hehasanoldcob，stillveryfine，onlyalittlebrokenkneed，andthatcouldbebought；Iamsure，forahundredcrowns。“Headded，“Andthinkingitmightpleaseyou，Ihavebespokenit——boughtit。HaveIdoneright？Dotellme？“

Shenoddedherheadinassent；thenaquarterofanhourlater——

“Areyougoingoutto-night？“sheasked。

“Yes。Why？“

“Oh，nothing，nothing，mydear!“

AndassoonasshehadgotridofCharlesshewentandshutherselfupinherroom。

Atfirstshefeltstunned；shesawthetrees，thepaths，theditches，Rodolphe，andsheagainfeltthepressureofhisarm，whiletheleavesrustledandthereedswhistled。

Butwhenshesawherselfintheglassshewonderedatherface。

Neverhadhereyesbeensolarge，soblack，ofsoprofoundadepth。Somethingsubtleaboutherbeingtransfiguredher。Sherepeated，“Ihavealover!alover!“delightingattheideaasifasecondpubertyhadcometoher。Soatlastshewastoknowthosejoysoflove，thatfeverofhappinessofwhichshehaddespairedlShewasenteringuponmarvelswhereallwouldbepassion，ecstasy，delirium。Anazureinfinityencompassedher，theheightsofsentimentsparkledunderherthought，andordinaryexistenceappearedonlyafaroff，downbelowintheshade，throughtheinterspacesoftheseheights。

Thensherecalledtheheroinesofthebooksthatshehadread，andthelyriclegionoftheseadulterouswomenbegantosinginhermemorywiththevoiceofsistersthatcharmedher。Shebecameherself，asitwere，anactualpartoftheseimaginings，andrealisedthelove-dreamofheryouthasshesawherselfinthistypeofamorouswomenwhomshehadsoenvied。Besides，Emmafeltasatisfactionofrevenge。Hadshenotsufferedenough？Butnowshetriumphed，andthelovesolongpentupburstforthinfulljoyousbubblings。Shetasteditwithoutremorse，withoutanxiety，withouttrouble。

Thedayfollowingpassedwithanewsweetness。TheymadevowstooneanotherShetoldhimofhersorrows。Rodolpheinterruptedherwithkisses；andshelookingathimthroughhalf-closedeyes，askedhimtocallheragainbyhername——tosaythathelovedherTheywereintheforest，asyesterday，intheshedofsomewoodenshoemaker。Thewallswereofstraw，andtheroofsolowtheyhadtostoop。Theywereseatedsidebysideonabedofdryleaves。

>Fromthatdayforththeywrotetooneanotherregularlyeveryevening。Emmaplacedherletterattheendofthegarden，bytheriver，inafissureofthewall。Rodolphecametofetchit，andputanotherthere，thatshealwaysfoundfaultwithastooshort。

Onemorning，whenCharleshadgoneoutbeforedaybreak，shewasseizedwiththefancytoseeRodolpheatonce。ShewouldgoquicklytoLaHuchette，staythereanhour，andbebackagainatYonvillewhileeveryonewasstillasleep。Thisideamadeherpantwithdesire，andshesoonfoundherselfinthemiddleofthef