Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Madame BovaryOn the strength of it she bought a pair of yellow curtains bit her lips and added, “Twenty francs a lesson, that’s toowith large stripes for her room, whose cheapness Monsieur dear!”Lheureux had commended; she dreamed of getting a carpet, “Yes, so it is—rather,” said Charles, giggling stupidly. “But it seemsand Lheureux, declaring that it wasn’t “drinking the sea,” politelyundertook to supply her with one. She could no longer no reputation, and who are often better than the celebrities.”to me that one might be able to do it for less; for there are artists ofdo without his services. Twenty times a day she sent for him, “Find them!” said Emma.and he at once put by his business without a murmur. People The next day when he came home he looked at her shyly,could not understand either why Mere Rollet breakfasted with and at last could no longer keep back the words.her every day, and even paid her private visits.“How obstinate you are sometimes! I went to BarfucheresIt was about this time, that is to say, the beginning of winter,that she seemed seized with great musical fervour. ladies who are at La Misericorde have lessons at fifty sousto-day. Well, Madame Liegard assured me that her three youngOne evening when Charles was listening to her, she began apiece, and that from an excellent mistress!”the same piece four times over, each time with much vexation,while he, not noticing any difference, cried—But when she passed by it (if Bovary were there), she sighed—She shrugged her shoulders and did not open her piano again.“Bravo! very goodl You are wrong to stop. Go on!” “Ah! my poor piano!”“Oh, no; it is execrable! My fingers are quite rusty.” And when anyone came to see her, she did not fail to informthem she had given up music, and could not begin againThe next day he begged her to play him something again.“Very well; to please you!”now for important reasons. Then people commiserated her—And Charles confessed she had gone off a little. She played “What a pity! she had so much talent!”wrong notes and blundered; then, stopping short—They even spoke to Bovary about it. They put him to shame,“Ah! it is no use. I ought to take some lessons; but—” She and especially the chemist.222