Madame Bovary - Penn State University

FlaubertShe showed him the impossibility of their love, and that has left me here especially for that. Monsieur Lormeaux, ofthey must remain, as formerly, on the simple terms of a fraternalfriendship.And the opportunity was lost, as she was to leave the nextthe Rue Grand-Pont, was to take me and his wife.”Was she speaking thus seriously? No doubt Emma did not day.herself know, quite absorbed as she was by the charm of the “Really!” said Leon.seduction, and the necessity of defending herself from it; and “Yes.”contemplating the young man with a moved look, she gently “But I must see you again,” he went on. “I wanted to tell you—”repulsed the timid caresses that his trembling hands attempted. “What?”“Ah! forgive me!” he cried, drawing back.“Something—important—serious. Oh, no! Besides, youEmma was seized with a vague fear at this shyness, more will not go; it is impossible. If you should—listen to me.dangerous to her than the boldness of Rodolphe when he Then you have not understood me; you have not guessed—”advanced to her open-armed. No man had ever seemed to “Yet you speak plainly,” said Emma.her so beautiful. An exquisite candour emanated from his “Ah! you can jest. Enough! enough! Oh, for pity’s sake, letbeing. He lowered his long fine eyelashes, that curled upwards.His cheek, with the soft skin reddened, she thought, “Well—”She stopped; then, as if thinking better of it, “Oh,me see you once—only once!”with desire of her person, and Emma felt an invincible longingto press her lips to it. Then, leaning towards the clock as “Where you will.”not here!”if to see the time—“Will you—”She seemed to reflect; then abruptly, “To-morrowat eleven o’clock in the cathedral.”“Ah! how late it is!” she said; “how we do chatter!”He understood the hint and took up his hat.“I shall be there,” he cried, seizing her hands, which she“It has even made me forget the theatre. And poor Bovary disengaged.203