Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Flauberta century or a moment, she sat down in a corner, closed herChapter Eighteyes, and stopped her ears. The gate grated; she sprang up. Beforeshe had spoken Mere Rollet said to her—SHE ASKED HERSELF as she walked along, “What am I going to“There is no one at your house!”say? How shall I begin?” And as she went on she recognised“What?”the thickets, the trees, the sea-rushes on the hill, the chateau“Oh, no one! And the doctor is crying. He is calling for yonder. All the sensations of her first tenderness came back toyou; they’re looking for you.”her, and her poor aching heart opened out amorously. A warmEmma answered nothing. She gasped as she turned her eyes wind blew in her face; the melting snow fell drop by dropabout her, while the peasant woman, frightened at her face, from the buds to the grass.drew back instinctively, thinking her mad. Suddenly she struck She entered, as she used to, through the small park-gate.her brow and uttered a cry; for the thought of Rodolphe, like She reached the avenue bordered by a double row of densea flash of lightning in a dark night, had passed into her soul. lime-trees. They were swaying their long whispering branchesHe was so good, so delicate, so generous! And besides, should to and fro. The dogs in their kennels all barked, and the noisehe hesitate to do her this service, she would know well enough of their voices resounded, but brought out no one.how to constrain him to it by re-waking, in a single moment, She went up the large straight staircase with wooden balustersthat led to the corridor paved with dusty flags, into whichtheir lost love. So she set out towards La Huchette, not seeingthat she was hastening to offer herself to that which but a several doors in a row opened, as in a monastery or an inn.while ago had so angered her, not in the least conscious of her His was at the top, right at the end, on the left. When sheprostitution.placed her fingers on the lock her strength suddenly desertedher. She was afraid, almost wished he would not be there,though this was her only hope, her last chance of salvation.263