Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Madame Bovaryphantom. Without understanding what she wanted, he had He was in despair, was calling out.the presentiment of something terrible.“Say nothing, or all the blame will fall on your master.”But she went on quickly in a love voice; in a sweet, melting Then she went home, suddenly calmed, and with somethingof the serenity of one that had performed a duty.voice, “I want it; give it to me.”As the partition wall was thin, they could hear the clatter of When Charles, distracted by the news of the distraint, returnedhome, Emma had just gone out. He cried aloud, wept,the forks on the plates in the dining-room.She pretended that she wanted to kill the rats that kept her fainted, but she did not return. Where could she be? He sentfrom sleeping.Felicite to Homais, to Monsieur Tuvache, to Lheureux, to“I must tell master.”the “Lion d’Or,” everywhere, and in the intervals of his agony“No, stay!” Then with an indifferent air, “Oh, it’s not worth he saw his reputation destroyed, their fortune lost, Berthe’swhile; I’ll tell him presently. Come, light me upstairs.” future ruined. By what?—Not a word! He waited till six inShe entered the corridor into which the laboratory door the evening. At last, unable to bear it any longer, and fancyingopened. Against the wall was a key labelled Capharnaum. she had gone to Rouen, he set out along the highroad, walked“Justin!” called the druggist impatiently.a mile, met no one, again waited, and returned home. She“Let us go up.”had come back.And he followed her. The key turned in the lock, and she “What was the matter? Why? Explain to me.”went straight to the third shelf, so well did her memory guide She sat down at her writing-table and wrote a letter, whichher, seized the blue jar, tore out the cork, plunged in her hand, she sealed slowly, adding the date and the hour. Then she saidand withdrawing it full of a white powder, she began eating it. in a solemn tone:“Stop!” he cried, rushing at her.“You are to read it to-morrow; till then, I pray you, do not“Hush! someone will come.”ask me a single question. No, not one!”268