Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Flaubertgleamed from afar the roots of Yonville, with the gardens at “Do you think so?” she said.the water’s edge, the yards, the walls and the church steeple. “Forward! forward!” he continued.Emma half closed her eyes to pick out her house, and never He “tchk’d” with his tongue. The two beasts set off at ahad this poor village where she lived appeared so small. From trot.the height on which they were the whole valley seemed an Long ferns by the roadside caught in Emma’s stirrup.immense pale lake sending off its vapour into the air. Clumps Rodolphe leant forward and removed them as they rode along.of trees here and there stood out like black rocks, and the tall At other times, to turn aside the branches, he passed close tolines of the poplars that rose above the mist were like a beach her, and Emma felt his knee brushing against her leg. The skystirred by the wind.was now blue, the leaves no longer stirred. There were spacesBy the side, on the turf between the pines, a brown light full of heather in flower, and plots of violets alternated withshimmered in the warm atmosphere. The earth, ruddy like the confused patches of the trees that were grey, fawn, or goldenthe powder of tobacco, deadened the noise of their steps, and coloured, according to the nature of their leaves. Often in thewith the edge of their shoes the horses as they walked kicked thicket was heard the fluttering of wings, or else the hoarse,the fallen fir cones in front of them.soft cry of the ravens flying off amidst the oaks.Rodolphe and Emma thus went along the skirt of the wood. They dismounted. Rodolphe fastened up the horses. SheShe turned away from time to time to avoid his look, and walked on in front on the moss between the paths. But herthen she saw only the pine trunks in lines, whose monotonoussuccession made her a little giddy. The horses were pant-and Rodolphe, walking behind her, saw between the blacklong habit got in her way, although she held it up by the skirt;ing; the leather of the saddles creaked.cloth and the black shoe the fineness of her white stocking,Just as they were entering the forest the sun shone out. that seemed to him as if it were a part of her nakedness.“God protects us!” said Rodolphe.She stopped. “I am tired,” she said.137