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himself at having surmounted the difficulty； Leon watched her
face out of the corner of his eyes。
It was like the sky when a gust of wind drives the clouds across。
The mass of sad thoughts that darkened them seemed to be lifted
from her blue eyes； her whole face shone。 He waited。 At last she
replied
〃I always suspected it。〃
Then they went over all the trifling events of that far…off
existence； whose joys and sorrows they had just summed up in one
word。 They recalled the arbour with clematis； the dresses she had
worn； the furniture of her room； the whole of her house。
〃And our poor cactuses； where are they？〃
〃The cold killed them this winter。〃
〃Ah！ how I have thought of them； do you know？ I often saw them
again as of yore； when on the summer mornings the sun beat down
upon your blinds； and I saw your two bare arms passing out
amongst the flowers。〃
〃Poor friend！〃 she said； holding out her hand to him。
Leon swiftly pressed his lips to it。 Then； when he had taken a
deep breath
〃At that time you were to me I know not what incomprehensible
force that took captive my life。 Once； for instance； I went to
see you； but you； no doubt； do not remember it。〃
〃I do；〃 she said； 〃go on。〃
〃You were downstairs in the ante…room； ready to go out； standing
on the last stair； you were wearing a bonnet with small blue
flowers； and without any invitation from you； in spite of myself；
I went with you。 Every moment； however； I grew more and more
conscious of my folly； and I went on walking by you； not daring
to follow you completely； and unwilling to leave you。 When you
went into a shop； I waited in the street； and I watched you
through the window taking off your gloves and counting the change
on the counter。 Then you rang at Madame Tuvache's； you were let
in； and I stood like an idiot in front of the great heavy door
that had closed after you。〃
Madame Bovary； as she listened to him； wondered that she was so
old。 All these things reappearing before her seemed to widen out
her life； it was like some sentimental immensity to which she
returned； and from time to time she said in a low voice； her eyes
half closed
〃Yes； it is truetruetrue！〃
They heard eight strike on the different clocks of the
Beauvoisine quarter； which is full of schools； churches； and
large empty hotels。 They no longer spoke； but they felt as they
looked upon each other a buzzing in their heads； as if something
sonorous had escaped from the fixed eyes of each of them。 They
were hand in hand now； and the past； the future； reminiscences
and dreams； all were confounded in the sweetness of this ecstasy。
Night was darkening over the walls； on which still shone； half
hidden in the shade； the coarse colours of four bills
representing four scenes from the 〃Tour de Nesle；〃 with a motto
in Spanish and French at the bottom。 Through the sash…window a
patch of dark sky was seen between the pointed roofs。
She rose to light two wax…candles on the drawers； then she sat
down again。
〃Well！〃 said Leon。
〃Well！〃 she replied。
He was thinking how to resume the interrupted conversation； when
she said to him
〃How is it that no one until now has ever expressed such
sentiments to me？〃
The clerk said that ideal natures were difficult to understand。
He from the first moment had loved her； and he despaired when he
thought of the happiness that would have been theirs； if thanks
to fortune； meeting her earlier； they had been indissolubly bound
to one another。
〃I have sometimes thought of it；〃 she went on。
〃What a dream！〃 murmured Leon。 And fingering gently the blue
binding of her long white sash； he added； 〃And who prevents us
from beginning now？〃
〃No； my friend；〃 she replied； 〃I am too old； you are too young。
Forget me！ Others will love you； you will love them。〃
〃Not as you！〃 he cried。
〃What a child you are！ Come； let us be sensible。 I wish it。〃
She showed him the impossibility of their love； and that they
must remain； as formerly； on the simple terms of a fraternal
friendship。
Was she speaking thus seriously？ No doubt Emma did not herself
know； quite absorbed as she was by the charm of the seduction；
and the necessity of defending herself from it； and contemplating
the young man with a moved look； she gently repulsed the timid
caresses that his trembling hands attempted。
〃Ah！ forgive me！〃 he cried； drawing back。
Emma was seized with a vague fear at this shyness； more dangerous
to her than the boldness of Rodolphe when he advanced to her
open…armed。 No man had ever seemed to her so beautiful。 An
exquisite candour emanated from his being。 He lowered his long
fine eyelashes； that curled upwards。 His cheek； with the soft
skin reddened； she thought； with desire of her person； and Emma
felt an invincible longing to press her lips to it。 Then； leaning
towards the clock as if to see the time
〃Ah！ how late it is！〃 she said； 〃how we do chatter！〃
He understood the hint and took up his hat。
〃It has even made me forget the theatre。 And poor Bovary has left
me here especially for that。 Monsieur Lormeaux； of the Rue
Grand…Pont； was to take me and his wife。〃
And the opportunity was lost； as she was to leave the next day。
〃Really！〃 said Leon。
〃Yes。〃
〃But I must see you again；〃 he went on。 〃I wanted to tell you〃
〃What？〃
〃Somethingimportantserious。 Oh； no！ Besides； you will not go；
it is impossible。 If you shouldlisten to me。 Then you have not
understood me； you have not guessed〃
〃Yet you speak plainly；〃 said Emma。
〃Ah！ you can jest。 Enough！ enough！ Oh； for pity's sake； let me
see you onceonly once！〃
〃Well〃She stopped； then； as if thinking better of it； 〃Oh； not
here！〃
〃Where you will。〃
〃Will you〃She seemed to reflect； then abruptly； 〃To…morrow at
eleven o'clock in the cathedral。〃
〃I shall be there；〃 he cried； seizing her hands； which she
disengaged。
And as they were both standing up； he behind her； and Emma with
her head bent； he stooped over her and pressed long kisses on her
neck。
〃You are mad！ Ah！ you are mad！〃 she said； with sounding little
laughs； while the kisses multiplied。
Then bending his head over her shoulder； he seemed to beg the
consent of her eyes。 They fell upon him full of an icy dignity。
Leon stepped back to go out。 He stopped on the threshold； then he
whispered with a trembling voice； 〃Tomorrow！〃
She answered with a nod； and disappeared like a bird into the
next room。
In the evening Emma wrote the clerk an interminable letter； in
which she cancelled the rendezvous； all was over； they must not；
for the sake of their happiness； meet again。 But when the letter
was finished； as she did not know Leon's address； she was
puzzled。
〃I'll give it to him myself；〃 she said； 〃he will come。〃
The next morning； at the open window； and humming on his balcony；
Leon himself varnished his pumps with several coatings。 He put on
white trousers； fine socks； a green coat； emptied all the scent
he had into his handkerchief； then having had his hair curled； he
uncurled it again； in order to give it a more natural elegance。
〃It is still too early；〃 he thought； looking at the hairdresser's
cuckoo…clock； that pointed to the hour of nine。 He read an old
fashion journal； went out； smoked a cigar； walked up three
streets； thought it was time； and went slowly towards the porch
of Notre Dame。
It was a beautiful summer morning。 Silver plate sparkled in the
jeweller's windows； and the light falling obliquely on the
cathedral made mirrors of the corners of the grey stones； a flock
of birds fluttered in the grey sky round the trefoil
bell…turrets； the square； resounding with cries； was fragrant
with the flowers that bordered its pavement； roses； jasmines；
pinks； narcissi； and tube…roses； unevenly spaced out between
moist grasses； catmint； and chickweed for the birds； the
fountains gurgled in the centre； and under large umbrellas；
amidst melons； piled up in heaps； flower…women； bare…headed； were
twisting paper round bunches of violets。
The young man took one。 It was the first time that he had bought
flowers for a woman； and his breast； as he smelt them； swelled
with pride； as if this homage that he meant f