第51章

Oftenherhusband，notingherpallor，askedifshewereunwell。

“No，“saidEmma。

“But，“hereplied，“youseemsostrangethisevening。“

“Oh，it’snothing!nothing!“

Therewereevendayswhenshehadnosoonercomeinthanshewentuptoherroom；andJustin，happeningtobethere，movedaboutnoiselessly，quickerathelpingherthanthebestofmaids。Heputthematchesready，thecandlestick，abook，arrangedhernightgown，turnedbackthebedclothes。

“Come!“saidshe，“thatwilldo。Nowyoucango。“

Forhestoodthere，hishandshangingdownandhiseyeswideopen，asifenmeshedintheinnumerablethreadsofasuddenreverie。

Thefollowingdaywasfrightful，andthosethatcameafterstillmoreunbearable，becauseofherimpatiencetoonceagainseizeherhappiness；anardentlust，inflamedbytheimagesofpastexperience，andthatburstforthfreelyontheseventhdaybeneathLeon’scaresses。Hisardourswerehiddenbeneathoutburstsofwonderandgratitude。Emmatastedthisloveinadiscreet，absorbedfashion，maintaineditbyalltheartificesofhertenderness，andtrembledalittlelestitshouldbelostlateron。

Sheoftensaidtohim，withhersweet，melancholyvoice——

“Ah!youtoo，youwillleaveme!Youwillmarry!Youwillbelikealltheothers。“

Heasked，“Whatothers？“

“Why，likeallmen，“shereplied。Thenadded，repulsinghimwithalanguidmovement——

“Youareallevil!“

Oneday，astheyweretalkingphilosophicallyofearthlydisillusions，toexperimentonhisjealousy，oryielding，perhaps，toanover-strongneedtopouroutherheart，shetoldhimthatformerly，beforehim，shehadlovedsomeone。

“Notlikeyou，“shewentonquickly，protestingbytheheadofherchildthat“nothinghadpassedbetweenthem。“

Theyoungmanbelievedher，butnonethelessquestionedhertofindoutwhathewas。

“Hewasaship’scaptain，mydear。“

Wasthisnotpreventinganyinquiry，and，atthesametime，assumingahighergroundthroughthispretendedfascinationexercisedoveramanwhomusthavebeenofwarlikenatureandaccustomedtoreceivehomage？

Theclerkthenfeltthelowlinessofhisposition；helongedforepaulettes，crosses，titles。Allthatwouldpleaseher——hegatheredthatfromherspendthrifthabits。

Emmaneverthelessconcealedmanyoftheseextravagantfancies，suchasherwishtohaveabluetilburytodriveintoRouen，drawnbyanEnglishhorseanddrivenbyagroomintop-boots。ItwasJustinwhohadinspiredherwiththiswhim，bybegginghertotakehimintoherserviceasvalet-de-chambre*，andiftheprivationofitdidnotlessenthepleasureofherarrivalateachrendezvous，itcertainlyaugmented