Madame Bovary - Penn State University

FlaubertEmma began to laugh, a strident, piercing, continuous laugh; And Charles felt relieved by this comfortable reflection,she had an attack of hysterics.which gave his weakness the flattering appearance of higher“Oh, my God!” cried Charles. “Ah! you really are wrong! pre-occupation.You come here and make scenes with her!”And what an outburst the next Thursday at the hotel inHis mother, shrugging her shoulders, declared it was “all their room with Leon! She laughed, cried, sang, sent for sherbets,wanted to smoke cigarettes, seemed to him wild andput on.”But Charles, rebelling for the first time, took his wife’s part, extravagant, but adorable, superb.so that Madame Bovary, senior, said she would leave. She He did not know what recreation of her whole being drovewent the very next day, and on the threshold, as he was trying her more and more to plunge into the pleasures of life. She wasto detain her, she replied—becoming irritable, greedy, voluptuous; and she walked about“No, no! You love her better than me, and you are right. It is the streets with him carrying her head high, without fear, so shenatural. For the rest, so much the worse! You will see. Good day— said, of compromising herself. At times, however, Emma shudderedat the sudden thought of meeting Rodolphe, for it seemedfor I am not likely to come soon again, as you say, to make scenes.”Charles nevertheless was very crestfallen before Emma, who to her that, although they were separated forever, she was notdid not hide the resentment she still felt at his want of confidence,and it needed many prayers before she would consent One night she did not return to Yonville at all. Charles lostcompletely free from her subjugation to him.to have another power of attorney. He even accompanied her his head with anxiety, and little Berthe would not go to bedto Monsieur Guillaumin to have a second one, just like the without her mamma, and sobbed enough to break her heart.other, drawn up.Justin had gone out searching the road at random. Monsieur“I understand,” said the notary; “a man of science can’t be Homais even had left his pharmacy.worried with the practical details of life.”At last, at eleven o’clock, able to bear it no longer, Charles235