Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Flaubert“Why was it? Who drove you to it?”the servant’s arm in her long white nightgown, from whichShe replied. “It had to be, my dear!”her bare feet peeped out. She looked wonderingly at the disorderedroom, and half-closed her eyes, dazzled by the candles“Weren’t you happy? Is it my fault? I did all I could!”“Yes, that is true—you are good—you.”burning on the table. They reminded her, no doubt, of theAnd she passed her hand slowly over his hair. The sweetness morning of New Year’s day and Mid-Lent, when thus awakenedearly by candle-light she came to her mother’s bed toof this sensation deepened his sadness; he felt his whole beingdissolving in despair at the thought that he must lose her, just fetch her presents, for she began saying—when she was confessing more love for him than ever. And he “But where is it, mamma?” And as everybody was silent,could think of nothing; he did not know, he did not dare; the “But I can’t see my little stocking.”urgent need for some immediate resolution gave the finishingstroke to the turmoil of his mind.towards the mantelpiece.Felicite held her over the bed while she still kept lookingSo she had done, she thought, with all the treachery; and “Has nurse taken it?” she asked.meanness, and numberless desires that had tortured her. She And at this name, that carried her back to the memory ofhated no one now; a twilight dimness was settling upon her her adulteries and her calamities, Madame Bovary turned awaythoughts, and, of all earthly noises, Emma heard none but her head, as at the loathing of another bitterer poison thatthe intermittent lamentations of this poor heart, sweet and rose to her mouth. But Berthe remained perched on the bed.indistinct like the echo of a symphony dying away.“Oh, how big your eyes are, mamma! How pale you are!“Bring me the child,” she said, raising herself on her elbow. how hot you are!”“You are not worse, are you?” asked Charles.Her mother looked at her. “I am frightened!” cried the child,“No, no!”recoiling.The child, serious, and still half-asleep, was carried in on Emma took her hand to kiss it; the child struggled.271