Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Madame BovaryThe two men were much surprised at Bovary’s romantic passengers get out, one after the other. Felicite put down aideas. The chemist at once went to him and said—mattress for him in the drawing-room. He threw himself upon“This velvet seems to me a superfetation. Besides, the expense—”Although a philosopher, Monsieur Homais respected theit and fell asleep.“What’s that to you?” cried Charles. “Leave me! You did dead. So bearing no grudge to poor Charles, he came backnot love her. Go!”again in the evening to sit up with the body; bringing withThe priest took him by the arm for a turn in the garden. him three volumes and a pocket-book for taking notes.He discoursed on the vanity of earthly things. God was very Monsieur Bournisien was there, and two large candles weregreat, was very good: one must submit to his decrees without burning at the head of the bed, that had been taken out of thea murmur; nay, must even thank him.alcove. The druggist, on whom the silence weighed, was notCharles burst out into blasphemies: “I hate your God!” long before he began formulating some regrets about this “unfortunateyoung woman.” and the priest replied that there“The spirit of rebellion is still upon you,” sighed the ecclesiastic.was nothing to do now but pray for her.Bovary was far away. He was walking with great strides along “Yet,” Homais went on, “one of two things; either she diedby the wall, near the espalier, and he ground his teeth; he raised in a state of grace (as the Church has it), and then she has noto heaven looks of malediction, but not so much as a leaf stirred. need of our prayers; or else she departed impertinent (that is,A fine rain was falling: Charles, whose chest was bare, at last I believe, the ecclesiastical expression), and then—”began to shiver; he went in and sat down in the kitchen. Bournisien interrupted him, replying testily that it was noneAt six o’clock a noise like a clatter of old iron was heard on the less necessary to pray.the Place; it was the “Hirondelle” coming in, and he remained “But,” objected the chemist, “since God knows all our needs,with his forehead against the windowpane, watching all the what can be the good of prayer?”280