第48章

Bovarywassearchingatthebottomofhispurseforacentime，andwithoutappearingtounderstandalltherewasofhumiliationforhiminthemerepresenceofthisman，whostoodtherelikeapersonifiedreproachtohisincurableincapacity。

“Hallo!you’veaprettybouquet，“hesaid，noticingLeon’svioletsonthechimney。

“Yes，“sherepliedindifferently；“it’sabouquetIboughtjustnowfromabeggar。“

Charlespickeduptheflowers，andfresheninghiseyes，redwithtears，againstthem，smeltthemdelicately。

Shetookthemquicklyfromhishandandputtheminaglassofwater。

ThenextdayMadameBovaryseniorarrived。Sheandhersonweptmuch。Emma，onthepretextofgivingorders，disappeared。Thefollowingdaytheyhadatalkoverthemourning。Theywentandsatdownwiththeirworkboxesbythewatersideunderthearbour。

Charleswasthinkingofhisfather，andwassurprisedtofeelsomuchaffectionforthisman，whomtillthenhehadthoughthecaredlittleabout。MadameBovaryseniorwasthinkingofherhusband。Theworstdaysofthepastseemedenviabletoher。Allwasforgottenbeneaththeinstinctiveregretofsuchalonghabit，andfromtimetotimewhilstshesewed，abigtearrolledalonghernoseandhungsuspendedthereamoment。Emmawasthinkingthatitwasscarcelyforty-eighthourssincetheyhadbeentogether，farfromtheworld，allinafrenzyofjoy，andnothavingeyesenoughtogazeuponeachother。Shetriedtorecalltheslightestdetailsofthatpastday。Butthepresenceofherhusbandandmother-in-lawworriedher。Shewouldhavelikedtohearnothing，toseenothing，soasnottodisturbthemeditationonherlove，that，dowhatshewould，becamelostinexternalsensations。

Shewasunpickingtheliningofadress，andthestripswerescatteredaroundher。MadameBovaryseniorwasplyingherscissorwithoutlookingup，andCharles，inhislistslippersandhisoldbrownsurtoutthatheusedasadressing-gown，satwithbothhandsinhispockets，anddidnotspeakeither；nearthemBerthe，inalittlewhitepinafore，wasrakingsandinthewalkswithherspade。SuddenlyshesawMonsieurLheureux，thelinendraper，comeinthroughthegate。

Hecametoofferhisservices“underthesadcircumstances。“Emmaansweredthatshethoughtshecoulddowithout。Theshopkeeperwasnottobebeaten。

“Ibegyourpardon，“hesaid，“butIshouldliketohaveaprivatetalkwithyou。“Theninalowvoice，“It’saboutthataffair——youknow。“

Charlescrimsonedtohisears。“Oh，yes!certainly。“Andinhisconfusion，turningtohiswife，“Couldn’tyou，mydarling？“

Sheseemedtounderstandhim，forsherose；andCharlessaidtohismother，“Itisnothingparticular。Nodoubt，somehouseholdtrifle。“Hedidnotwanthertoknowthestoryofthebill，fearingherreproaches。

Assoonastheywerealone，MonsieurLheureuxinsufficientlycleartermsbegantocongratulateEmmaontheinheritance，thentotalkofindifferentmatters，oftheespaliers，oftheharvest，andofhisownhealth，whichwasalwaysso-so，alwayshavingupsanddowns。Infact，hehadtoworkdevilishhard，althoughhedidn’tmakeenough，inspiteofallpeoplesaid，tof