Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Madame Bovaryplayed in other places at the theatres, sung in drawing rooms, without dressing, wore grey cotton stockings, and burnt tallowcandles. She kept saying they must be economical sincedanced to at night under lighted lustres, echoes of the worldthat reached even to Emma. Endless sarabands ran through they were not rich, adding that she was very contented, veryher head, and, like an Indian dancing girl on the flowers of a happy, that Tostes pleased her very much, with other speechescarpet, her thoughts leapt with the notes, swung from dream that closed the mouth of her mother-in-law. Besides, Emmato dream, from sadness to sadness. When the man had caught no longer seemed inclined to follow her advice; once even,some coppers in his cap, he drew down an old cover of blue Madame Bovary having thought fit to maintain that mistressesought to keep an eye on the religion of their servants,cloth, hitched his organ on to his back, and went off with aheavy tread. She watched him going.she had answered with so angry a look and so cold a smileBut it was above all the meal-times that were unbearable to that the good woman did not interfere again.her, in this small room on the ground floor, with its smoking Emma was growing difficult, capricious. She ordered dishesstove, its creaking door, the walls that sweated, the damp flags; for herself, then she did not touch them; one day drank onlyall the bitterness in life seemed served up on her plate, and with pure milk, the next cups of tea by the dozen. Often she persistedin not going out, then, stifling, threw open the win-smoke of the boiled beef there rose from her secret soul whiffsof sickliness. Charles was a slow eater; she played with a few dows and put on light dresses. After she had well scolded hernuts, or, leaning on her elbow, amused herself with drawing servant she gave her presents or sent her out to see neighbours,lines along the oilcloth table cover with the point of her knife. just as she sometimes threw beggars all the silver in her purse,She now let everything in her household take care of itself, although she was by no means tender-hearted or easily accessibleto the feelings of others, like most country-bred people,and Madame Bovary senior, when she came to spend part ofLent at Tostes, was much surprised at the change. She who who always retain in their souls something of the horny hardnessof the paternal was formerly so careful, so dainty, now passed whole dayshands.58