第35章

Withhiselbowsonthelongboardonwhichshewasironing，hegreedilywatchedallthesewomen’sclothesspreadabouthim，thedimitypetticoats，thefichus，thecollars，andthedrawerswithrunningstrings，wideatthehipsandgrowingnarrowerbelow。

“Whatisthatfor？“askedtheyoungfellow，passinghishandoverthecrinolineorthehooksandeyes。

“Why，haven’tyoueverseenanything？“Feliciteansweredlaughing。“Asifyourmistress，MadameHomais，didn’twearthesame。“

“Oh，Idaresay!MadameHomais!“Andheaddedwithameditativeair，“Asifshewerealadylikemadame!“

ButFelicitegrewimpatientofseeinghimhangingroundher。Shewassixyearsolderthanhe，andTheodore，MonsieurGuillaumin’sservant，wasbeginningtopaycourttoher。

“Letmealone，“shesaid，movingherpotofstarch。“You’dbetterbeoffandpoundalmonds；youarealwaysdanglingaboutwomen。

Beforeyoumeddlewithsuchthings，badboy，waittillyou’vegotabeardtoyourchin。“

“Oh，don’tbecross!I’llgoandcleanherboots。“

AndheatoncetookdownfromtheshelfEmma’sboots，allcoatedwithmud，themudoftherendezvous，thatcrumbledintopowderbeneathhisfingers，andthathewatchedasitgentlyroseinarayofsunlight。

“Howafraidyouareofspoilingthem!“saidtheservant，whowasn’tsoparticularwhenshecleanedthemherself，becauseassoonasthestuffofthebootswasnolongerfreshmadamehandedthemovertoher。

Emmahadanumberinhercupboardthatshesquanderedoneaftertheother，withoutCharlesallowinghimselftheslightestobservation。SoalsohedisbursedthreehundredfrancsforawoodenlegthatshethoughtpropertomakeapresentoftoHippolyte。Itstopwascoveredwithcork，andithadspringjoints，acomplicatedmechanism，coveredoverbyblacktrousersendinginapatent-leatherboot。ButHippolyte，notdaringtousesuchahandsomelegeveryday，beggedMadameBovarytogethimanothermoreconvenientone。Thedoctor，ofcourse，hadagaintodefraytheexpenseofthispurchase。

Solittlebylittlethestable-mantookuphisworkagain。Onesawhimrunningaboutthevillageasbefore，andwhenCharlesheardfromafarthesharpnoiseofthewoodenleg，heatoncewentinanotherdirection。

ItwasMonsieurLheureux，theshopkeeper，whohadundertakentheorder；thisprovidedhimwithanexcuseforvisitingEmma。HechattedwithheraboutthenewgoodsfromParis，aboutathousandfemininetrifles，madehimselfveryobliging，andneveraskedforhismoney。Emmayieldedtothislazymodeofsatisfyingallhercaprices。Thusshewantedtohaveaveryhandsomeridding-whipthatwasatanumbrella-maker’satRouentogivetoRodolphe。TheweekafterMonsieurLheureuxplaceditonhertable。

Butthenextdayhecalledonherwithabillfortwohundredandseventyfrancs，notcountingthecentimes。Emmawasmuchembarrassed；allthedrawersofthewriting-tablewereempty；

theyowedoverafortnight’swagestoLestiboudois，twoquart