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clear complexion that is heightened by the pallor of porcelain；
the shimmer of satin； the veneer of old furniture； and that an
ordered regimen of exquisite nurture maintains at its best。 Their
necks moved easily in their low cravats； their long whiskers fell
over their turned…down collars； they wiped their lips upon
handkerchiefs with embroidered initials that gave forth a subtle
perfume。 Those who were beginning to grow old had an air of
youth； while there was something mature in the faces of the
young。 In their unconcerned looks was the calm of passions daily
satiated； and through all their gentleness of manner pierced that
peculiar brutality； the result of a command of half…easy things；
in which force is exercised and vanity amusedthe management of
thoroughbred horses and the society of loose women。
A few steps from Emma a gentleman in a blue coat was talking of
Italy with a pale young woman wearing a parure of pearls。
They were praising the breadth of the columns of St。 Peter's；
Tivoly； Vesuvius； Castellamare； and Cassines； the roses of Genoa；
the Coliseum by moonlight。 With her other ear Emma was listening
to a conversation full of words she did not understand。 A circle
gathered round a very young man who the week before had beaten
〃Miss Arabella〃 and 〃Romolus；〃 and won two thousand louis jumping
a ditch in England。 One complained that his racehorses were
growing fat； another of the printers' errors that had disfigured
the name of his horse。
The atmosphere of the ball was heavy； the lamps were growing dim。
Guests were flocking to the billiard room。 A servant got upon a
chair and broke the window…panes。 At the crash of the glass
Madame Bovary turned her head and saw in the garden the faces of
peasants pressed against the window looking in at them。 Then the
memory of the Bertaux came back to her。 She saw the farm again；
the muddy pond； her father in a blouse under the apple trees； and
she saw herself again as formerly； skimming with her finger the
cream off the milk…pans in the dairy。 But in the refulgence of
the present hour her past life； so distinct until then； faded
away completely； and she almost doubted having lived it。 She was
there； beyond the ball was only shadow overspreading all the
rest。 She was just eating a maraschino ice that she held with her
left hand in a silver…gilt cup； her eyes half…closed； and the
spoon between her teeth。
A lady near her dropped her fan。 A gentlemen was passing。
〃Would you be so good；〃 said the lady； 〃as to pick up my fan that
has fallen behind the sofa？〃
The gentleman bowed； and as he moved to stretch out his arm； Emma
saw the hand of a young woman throw something white； folded in a
triangle； into his hat。 The gentleman； picking up the fan；
offered it to the lady respectfully； she thanked him with an
inclination of the head； and began smelling her bouquet。
After supper； where were plenty of Spanish and Rhine wines； soups
a la bisque and au lait d'amandes*； puddings a la Trafalgar； and
all sorts of cold meats with jellies that trembled in the dishes；
the carriages one after the other began to drive off。 Raising the
corners of the muslin curtain； one could see the light of their
lanterns glimmering through the darkness。 The seats began to
empty； some card…players were still left； the musicians were
cooling the tips of their fingers on their tongues。 Charles was
half asleep； his back propped against a door。
*With almond milk20
At three o'clock the cotillion began。 Emma did not know how to waltz。
Everyone was waltzing； Mademoiselle d'Andervilliers herself and the Marquis；
only the guests staying at the castle were still there； about a
dozen persons。
One of the waltzers； however； who was familiarly called Viscount；
and whose low cut waistcoat seemed moulded to his chest； came a
second time to ask Madame Bovary to dance； assuring her that he
would guide her； and that she would get through it very well。
They began slowly； then went more rapidly。 They turned； all
around them was turningthe lamps； the furniture； the
wainscoting； the floor； like a disc on a pivot。 On passing near
the doors the bottom of Emma's dress caught against his trousers。
Their legs commingled； he looked down at her； she raised her eyes
to his。 A torpor seized her； she stopped。 They started again； and
with a more rapid movement； the Viscount； dragging her along
disappeared with her to the end of the gallery； where panting；
she almost fell； and for a moment rested her head upon his
breast。 And then； still turning； but more slowly； he guided her
back to her seat。 She leaned back against the wall and covered
her eyes with her hands。
When she opened them again； in the middle of the drawing room
three waltzers were kneeling before a lady sitting on a stool。
She chose the Viscount； and the violin struck up once more。
Everyone looked at them。 They passed and re…passed； she with
rigid body； her chin bent down； and he always in the same pose；
his figure curved； his elbow rounded； his chin thrown forward。
That woman knew how to waltz！ They kept up a long time； and tired
out all the others。
Then they talked a few moments longer； and after the goodnights；
or rather good mornings； the guests of the chateau retired to
bed。
Charles dragged himself up by the balusters。 His 〃knees were
going up into his body。〃 He had spent five consecutive hours
standing bolt upright at the card tables； watching them play
whist； without understanding anything about it； and it was with a
deep sigh of relief that he pulled off his boots。
Emma threw a shawl over her shoulders； opened the window； and
leant out。
The night was dark； some drops of rain were falling。 She breathed
in the damp wind that refreshed her eyelids。 The music of the
ball was still murmuring in her ears。 And she tried to keep
herself awake in order to prolong the illusion that this
luxurious life that she would soon have to give up。
Day began to break。 She looked long at the windows of the
chateau； trying to guess which were the rooms of all those she
had noticed the evening before。 She would fain have known their
lives； have penetrated； blended with them。 But she was shivering
with cold。 She undressed； and cowered down between the sheets
against Charles； who was asleep。
There were a great many people to luncheon。 The repast lasted ten
minutes； no liqueurs were served； which astonished the doctor。
Next； Mademoiselle d〃Andervilliers collected some pieces of roll
in a small basket to take them to the swans on the ornamental
waters； and they went to walk in the hot…houses； where strange
plants； bristling with hairs； rose in pyramids under hanging
vases； whence； as from over…filled nests of serpents； fell long
green cords interlacing。 The orangery； which was at the other
end； led by a covered way to the outhouses of the chateau。 The
Marquis； to amuse the young woman； took her to see the stables。
Above the basket…shaped racks porcelain slabs bore the names of
the horses in black letters。 Each animal in its stall whisked its
tail when anyone went near and said 〃Tchk！ tchk！〃 The boards of
the harness room shone like the flooring of a drawing room。 The
carriage harness was piled up in the middle against two twisted
columns； and the bits； the whips； the spurs； the curbs； were
ranged in a line all along the wall。
Charles； meanwhile； went to ask a groom to put his horse to。 The
dog…cart was brought to the foot of the steps； and； all the
parcels being crammed in； the Bovarys paid their respects to the
Marquis and Marchioness and set out again for Tostes。
Emma watched the turning wheels in silence。 Charles； on the
extreme edge of the seat； held the reins with his two arms wide
apart； and the little horse ambled along in the shafts that were
too big for him。 The loose reins hanging over his crupper were
wet with foam； and the box fastened on behind the chaise gave
great regular bumps against it。
They were on the heights of Thibourville when suddenly some
horsemen with cigars between their lips passed laughing。 Emma
thought she recognized the Viscount； turned back； and caught on
the horizon only the movement of the heads ris