第50章

Atlastthebrickhousesbegantofollowoneanothermoreclosely，theearthresoundedbeneaththewheels，the“Hirondelle“

glidedbetweenthegardens，wherethroughanopeningonesawstatues，aperiwinkleplant，clippedyews，andaswing。Thenonasuddenthetownappeared。Slopingdownlikeanamphitheatre，anddrownedinthefog，itwidenedoutbeyondthebridgesconfusedly。

Thentheopencountryspreadawaywithamonotonousmovementtillittouchedinthedistancethevaguelineofthepalesky。Seenthusfromabove，thewholelandscapelookedimmovableasapicture；theanchoredshipsweremassedinonecorner，therivercurvedroundthefootofthegreenhills，andtheisles，obliqueinshape，layonthewater，likelarge，motionless，blackfishes。

Thefactorychimneysbelchedforthimmensebrownfumesthatwereblownawayatthetop。Oneheardtherumblingofthefoundries，togetherwiththeclearchimesofthechurchesthatstoodoutinthemist。Theleaflesstreesontheboulevardsmadevioletthicketsinthemidstofthehouses，andtheroofs，allshiningwiththerain，threwbackunequalreflections，accordingtotheheightofthequartersinwhichtheywere。SometimesagustofwinddrovethecloudstowardstheSaintCatherinehills，likeaerialwavesthatbrokesilentlyagainstacliff。

Agiddinessseemedtohertodetachitselffromthismassofexistence，andherheartswelledasifthehundredandtwentythousandsoulsthatpalpitatedtherehadallatoncesentintoitthevapourofthepassionsshefanciedtheirs。Herlovegrewinthepresenceofthisvastness，andexpandedwithtumulttothevaguemurmuringsthatrosetowardsher。Shepoureditoutuponthesquare，onthewalks，onthestreets，andtheoldNormancityoutspreadbeforehereyesasanenormouscapital，asaBabylonintowhichshewasentering。Sheleantwithbothhandsagainstthewindow，drinkinginthebreeze；thethreehorsesgalloped，thestonesgratedinthemud，thediligencerocked，andHivert，fromafar，hailedthecartsontheroad，whilethebourgeoiswhohadspentthenightattheGuillaumewoodscamequietlydownthehillintheirlittlefamilycarriages。

Theystoppedatthebarrier；Emmaundidherovershoes，putonothergloves，rearrangedhershawl，andsometwentypacesfarthershegotdownfromthe“Hirondelle。“

Thetownwasthenawakening。Shop-boysincapswerecleaninguptheshop-fronts，andwomenwithbasketsagainsttheirhips，atintervalsutteredsonorouscriesatthecornersofstreets。Shewalkedwithdowncasteyes，closetothewalls，andsmilingwithpleasureunderherloweredblackveil。

Forfearofbeingseen，shedidnotusuallytakethemostdirectroad。Sheplungedintodarkalleys，and，allperspiring，reachedthebottomoftheRueNationale，nearthefountainthatstandsthere。It，isthequarterfortheatres，public-houses，andwhores。Oftenacartwouldpassnearher，bearingsomeshakingscenery。Waitersinapronsweresprinklingsandontheflagstonesbetweengreenshrubs。Itallsmeltofabsinthe，cigars，andoysters。

Sheturneddownastreet；sherecognisedhimbyhiscurlinghairthatescapedfrombeneathhishat。

Leonwalkedalongthepavement。Shefollowedhimtothehotel。Hewentup，openedthedoor，entered——Whatanembrace!

Then，afterthekisses，thewordsgushedforth。Theytoldeachotherthesorrowsoftheweek，thepresentiments，theanxietyfortheletters；butnoweverythingwasforgotten；theygazedintoeachother’sfaceswithvoluptuouslaughs，andtendernames。

Thebedwaslarge，ofmahogany，intheshapeofaboat。Thecurtainswe