Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Flauberttrary, who ought to complain. We hardly know one another; “You are taking a shameless advantage of my distress, sir! Iyet I am very devoted to you. You do not doubt that, I hope?” am to be pitied—not to be sold.”He held out his hand, took hers, covered it with a greedy And she went out.kiss, then held it on his knee; and he played delicately with The notary remained quite stupefied, his eyes fixed on hisher fingers whilst he murmured a thousand blandishments. fine embroidered slippers. They were a love gift, and the sightHis insipid voice murmured like a running brook; a light of them at last consoled him. Besides, he reflected that suchshone in his eyes through the glimmering of his spectacles, an adventure might have carried him too far.and his hand was advancing up Emma’s sleeve to press her “What a wretch! what a scoundrel! what an infamy!” she saidarm. She felt against her cheek his panting breath. This man to herself, as she fled with nervous steps beneath the aspens ofoppressed her horribly.the path. The disappointment of her failure increased the indignationof her outraged modesty; it seemed to her that Provi-She sprang up and said to him—“Sir, I am waiting.”dence pursued her implacably, and, strengthening herself in her“For what?” said the notary, who suddenly became very pale. pride, she had never felt so much esteem for herself nor so“This money.”much contempt for others. A spirit of warfare transformed her.“But—” Then, yielding to the outburst of too powerful a She would have liked to strike all men, to spit in their faces, todesire, “Well, yes!”crush them, and she walked rapidly straight on, pale, quivering,maddened, searching the empty horizon with tear-dimmedHe dragged himself towards her on his knees, regardless ofhis dressing-gown.eyes, and as it were rejoicing in the hate that was choking her.“For pity’s sake, stay. I love you!”When she saw her house a numbness came over her. SheHe seized her by her waist. Madame Bovary’s face flushed could not go on; and yet she must. Besides, whither couldpurple. She recoiled with a terrible look, crying—she flee ?259