第32章

“Good-bye，mydearchildren。Ikissyou，mygirl，youtoo，myson-in-law，andthelittleoneonbothcheeks。Iam，withbestcompliments，yourlovingfather。

“TheodoreRouault。“

Sheheldthecoarsepaperinherfingersforsomeminutes。Thespellingmistakeswereinterwovenonewiththeother，andEmmafollowedthekindlythoughtthatcackledrightthroughitlikeahenhalfhiddeninthehedgeofthorns。Thewritinghadbeendriedwithashesfromthehearth，foralittlegreypowderslippedfromtheletterontoherdress，andshealmostthoughtshesawherfatherbendingoverthehearthtotakeupthetongs。

Howlongsinceshehadbeenwithhim，sittingonthefootstoolinthechimney-corner，wheresheusedtoburntheendofabitofwoodinthegreatflameofthesea-sedges!Sherememberedthesummereveningsallfullofsunshine。Thecoltsneighedwhenanyonepassedby，andgalloped，galloped。Underherwindowtherewasabeehive，andsometimesthebeeswheelingroundinthelightstruckagainstherwindowlikereboundingballsofgold。Whathappinesstherehadbeenatthattime，whatfreedom，whathope!

Whatanabundanceofillusions!Nothingwasleftofthemnow。Shehadgotridofthemallinhersoul’slife，inallhersuccessiveconditionsoflifemaidenhood，hermarriage，andherlove——thusconstantlylosingthemallherlifethrough，likeatravellerwholeavessomethingofhiswealthateveryinnalonghisroad。

Butwhatthen，madehersounhappy？Whatwastheextraordinarycatastrophethathadtransformedher？Andsheraisedherhead，lookingroundasiftoseekthecauseofthatwhichmadehersuffer。

AnAprilraywasdancingonthechinaofthewhatnot；thefireburned；beneathherslippersshefeltthesoftnessofthecarpet；

thedaywasbright，theairwarm，andsheheardherchildshoutingwithlaughter。

Infact，thelittlegirlwasjustthenrollingonthelawninthemidstofthegrassthatwasbeingturned。Shewaslyingflatonherstomachatthetopofarick。Theservantwasholdingherbyherskirt。Lestiboudoiswasrakingbyherside，andeverytimehecamenearshelentforward，beatingtheairwithbothherarms。

“Bringhertome，“saidhermother，rushingtoembraceher。“HowIloveyou，mypoorchild!HowIloveyou!“

Thennoticingthatthetipsofherearswereratherdirty，sherangatonceforwarmwater，andwashedher，changedherlinen，herstockings，hershoes，askedathousandquestionsaboutherhealth，asifonthereturnfromalongjourney，andfinally，kissingheragainandcryingalittle，shegaveherbacktotheservant，whostoodquitethunderstrickenatthisexcessoftenderness。

ThateveningRodolphefoundhermoreseriousthanusual。

“Thatwillpassover，“heconcluded；“it’sawhim：“

Andhemissedthreerendezvousrunning。Whenhedidcome，sheshowedherselfcoldandalmostcontemptuous。

“Ah!you’relosingyourtime，mylady!“

Andhepretendednottonoticehermelancholysighs，northehandkerchiefshetookout。

ThenEmmarepented。SheevenaskedherselfwhyshedetestedCharles；ifithadnotbeenbettertohavebeenabletolovehim？

Buthegavehernoopportunitiesforsucharevivalofsentiment，sothatshewasmuchembarrassedbyherdesireforsacrifice，whenthedruggistcamejustintimetoprovideherwithanopportunity。

ChapterElevenHehadrecentlyr