Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Flauberttheir houses the evening before; tri-coloured flags hung from On one was written, “To Commerce”; on the other, “Tohalf-open windows; all the public-houses were full; and in the Agriculture”; on the third, “To Industry”; and on the fourth,lovely weather the starched caps, the golden crosses, and the “To the Fine Arts.”coloured neckerchiefs seemed whiter than snow, shone in the But the jubilation that brightened all faces seemed to darkensun, and relieved with the motley colours the sombre monotony that of Madame Lefrancois, the innkeeper. Standing on herof the frock-coats and blue smocks. The neighbouring farmers’ kitchen-steps she muttered to herself, “What rubbish! whatwives, when they got off their horses, pulled out the long pins rubbish! With their canvas booth! Do they think the prefectthat fastened around them their dresses, turned up for fear of will be glad to dine down there under a tent like a gipsy?mud; and the husbands, for their part, in order to save their They call all this fussing doing good to the place! Then ithats, kept their handkerchiefs around them, holding one cornerbetween their teeth.cookshop! And for whom? For cowherds! tatterdemalions!”wasn’t worth while sending to Neufchatel for the keeper of aThe crowd came into the main street from both ends of The druggist was passing. He had on a frock-coat, nankeenthe village. People poured in from the lanes, the alleys, the trousers, beaver shoes, and, for a wonder, a hat with a lowhouses; and from time to time one heard knockers banging crown.against doors closing behind women with their gloves, who “Your servant! Excuse me, I am in a hurry.” And as the fatwere going out to see the fete. What was most admired were widow asked where he was going—two long lamp-stands covered with lanterns, that flanked a “It seems odd to you, doesn’t it, I who am always moreplatform on which the authorities were to sit. Besides this cooped up in my laboratory than the man’s rat in his cheese.”there were against the four columns of the town hall four “What cheese?” asked the landlady.kinds of poles, each bearing a small standard of greenish cloth, “Oh, nothing! nothing!” Homais continued. “I merelyembellished with inscriptions in gold letters.wished to convey to you, Madame Lefrancois, that I usually115