Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Madame Bovarytions in his head that would have frightened Binet himself. Then Monsieur Lheureux delicately exhibited three Algerianscarves, several packet of English needles, a pair of strawPolite to obsequiousness, he always held himself with his backbent in the position of one who bows or who invites. slippers, and finally, four eggcups in cocoanut wood, carvedAfter leaving at the door his hat surrounded with crape, he in open work by convicts. Then, with both hands on theput down a green bandbox on the table, and began by complainingto madame, with many civilities, that he should have mouthed, he watched Emma’s look, who was walking uptable, his neck stretched out, his figure bent forward, open-remained till that day without gaining her confidence. A poor and down undecided amid these goods. From time to time,shop like his was not made to attract a “fashionable lady”; he as if to remove some dust, he filliped with his nail the silk ofemphasized the words; yet she had only to command, and he the scarves spread out at full length, and they rustled with awould undertake to provide her with anything she might wish, little noise, making in the green twilight the gold spangles ofeither in haberdashery or linen, millinery or fancy goods, for their tissue scintillate like little stars.he went to town regularly four times a month. He was connectedwith the best houses. You could speak of him at the “A mere nothing,” he replied, “a mere nothing. But there’s“How much are they?”“Trois Freres,” at the “Barbe d’Or,” or at the “Grand Sauvage”; no hurry; whenever it’s convenient. We are not Jews.”all these gentlemen knew him as well as the insides of their She reflected for a few moments, and ended by again decliningMonsieur Lheureux’s offer. He replied quite uncon-pockets. To-day, then he had come to show madame, in passing,various articles he happened to have, thanks to the most cernedly—rare opportunity. And he pulled out half-a-dozen embroidered “Very well. We shall understand one another by and by. Icollars from the box.have always got on with ladies—if I didn’t with my own!”Madame Bovary examined them. “I do not require anything,”she said.“I wanted to tell you,” he went on good-naturedly, afterEmma smiled.his90