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Once the moon rose； they did not fail to make fine phrases；
finding the orb melancholy and full of poetry。 She even began to
sing
〃One night； do you remember； we were sailing；〃 etc。
Her musical but weak voice died away along the waves； and the
winds carried off the trills that Leon heard pass like the
flapping of wings about him。
She was opposite him； leaning against the partition of the
shallop； through one of whose raised blinds the moon streamed in。
Her black dress； whose drapery spread out like a fan； made her
seem more slender； taller。 Her head was raised； her hands
clasped； her eyes turned towards heaven。 At times the shadow of
the willows hid her completely； then she reappeared suddenly；
like a vision in the moonlight。
Leon； on the floor by her side； found under his hand a ribbon of
scarlet silk。 The boatman looked at it； and at last said
〃Perhaps it belongs to the party I took out the other day。 A lot
of jolly folk； gentlemen and ladies； with cakes； champagne；
cornetseverything in style！ There was one especially； a tall
handsome man with small moustaches； who was that funny！ And they
all kept saying； 'Now tell us something； AdolpheDolpe；' I
think。〃
She shivered。
〃You are in pain？〃 asked Leon； coming closer to her。
〃Oh； it's nothing！ No doubt； it is only the night air。〃
〃And who doesn't want for women； either；〃 softly added the
sailor； thinking he was paying the stranger a compliment。
Then； spitting on his hands； he took the oars again。
Yet they had to part。 The adieux were sad。 He was to send his
letters to Mere Rollet； and she gave him such precise
instructions about a double envelope that he admired greatly her
amorous astuteness。
〃So you can assure me it is all right？〃 she said with her last
kiss。
〃Yes； certainly。〃
〃But why；〃 he thought afterwards as he came back through the
streets alone； 〃is she so very anxious to get this power of
attorney？〃
Chapter Four
Leon soon put on an air of superiority before his comrades；
avoided their company； and completely neglected his work。
He waited for her letters； he re…read them； he wrote to her。 He
called her to mind with all the strength of his desires and of
his memories。 Instead of lessening with absence； this longing to
see her again grew； so that at last on Saturday morning he
escaped from his office。
When； from the summit of the hill； he saw in the valley below the
church…spire with its tin flag swinging in the wind； he felt that
delight mingled with triumphant vanity and egoistic tenderness
that millionaires must experience when they come back to their
native village。
He went rambling round her house。 A light was burning in the
kitchen。 He watched for her shadow behind the curtains； but
nothing appeared。
Mere Lefrancois； when she saw him； uttered many exclamations。 She
thought he 〃had grown and was thinner；〃 while Artemise； on the
contrary； thought him stouter and darker。
He dined in the little room as of yore； but alone； without the
tax…gatherer； for Binet； tired of waiting for the 〃Hirondelle；〃
had definitely put forward his meal one hour； and now he dined
punctually at five； and yet he declared usually the rickety old
concern 〃was late。〃
Leon； however； made up his mind； and knocked at the doctor's
door。 Madame was in her room； and did not come down for a quarter
of an hour。 The doctor seemed delighted to see him； but he never
stirred out that evening； nor all the next day。
He saw her alone in the evening； very late； behind the garden in
the lane； in the lane； as she had the other one！ It was a stormy
night； and they talked under an umbrella by lightning flashes。
Their separation was becoming intolerable。 〃I would rather die！〃
said Emma。 She was writhing in his arms； weeping。 〃Adieu！ adieu！
When shall I see you again？〃
They came back again to embrace once more； and it was then that
she promised him to find soon； by no matter what means； a regular
opportunity for seeing one another in freedom at least once a
week。 Emma never doubted she should be able to do this。 Besides；
she was full of hope。 Some money was coming to her。
On the strength of it she bought a pair of yellow curtains with
large stripes for her room； whose cheapness Monsieur Lheureux had
commended； she dreamed of getting a carpet； and Lheureux；
declaring that it wasn't 〃drinking the sea；〃 politely undertook
to supply her with one。 She could no longer do without his
services。 Twenty times a day she sent for him； and he at once put
by his business without a murmur。 People could not understand
either why Mere Rollet breakfasted with her every day； and even
paid her private visits。
It was about this time； that is to say； the beginning of winter；
that she seemed seized with great musical fervour。
One evening when Charles was listening to her； she began the same
piece four times over； each time with much vexation； while he；
not noticing any difference； cried
〃Bravo！ very goodl You are wrong to stop。 Go on！〃
〃Oh； no； it is execrable！ My fingers are quite rusty。〃
The next day he begged her to play him something again。
〃Very well； to please you！〃
And Charles confessed she had gone off a little。 She played wrong
notes and blundered； then； stopping short
〃Ah！ it is no use。 I ought to take some lessons； but〃 She bit
her lips and added； 〃Twenty francs a lesson； that's too dear！〃
〃Yes； so it israther；〃 said Charles； giggling stupidly。 〃But it
seems to me that one might be able to do it for less； for there
are artists of no reputation； and who are often better than the
celebrities。〃
〃Find them！〃 said Emma。
The next day when he came home he looked at her shyly； and at
last could no longer keep back the words。
〃How obstinate you are sometimes！ I went to Barfucheres to…day。
Well； Madame Liegard assured me that her three young ladies who
are at La Misericorde have lessons at fifty sous apiece； and that
from an excellent mistress！〃
She shrugged her shoulders and did not open her piano again。 But
when she passed by it （if Bovary were there）； she sighed
〃Ah！ my poor piano！〃
And when anyone came to see her； she did not fail to inform them
she had given up music； and could not begin again now for
important reasons。 Then people commiserated her
〃What a pity！ she had so much talent！〃
They even spoke to Bovary about it。 They put him to shame； and
especially the chemist。
〃You are wrong。 One should never let any of the faculties of
nature lie fallow。 Besides； just think； my good friend； that by
inducing madame to study； you are economising on the subsequent
musical education of your child。 For my own part； I think that
mothers ought themselves to instruct their children。 That is an
idea of Rousseau's； still rather new perhaps； but that will end
by triumphing； I am certain of it； like mothers nursing their own
children and vaccination。〃
So Charles returned once more to this question of the piano。 Emma
replied bitterly that it would be better to sell it。 This poor
piano； that had given her vanity so much satisfactionto see it
go was to Bovary like the indefinable suicide of a part of
herself。
〃If you liked；〃 he said； 〃a lesson from time to time； that
wouldn't after all be very ruinous。〃
〃But lessons；〃 she replied； 〃are only of use when followed up。〃
And thus it was she set about obtaining her husband's permission
to go to town once a week to see her lover。 At the end of a month
she was even considered to have made considerable progress。
Chapter Five
She went on Thursdays。 She got up and dressed silently； in order
not to awaken Charles； who would have made remarks about her
getting ready too early。 Next she walked up and down； went to the
windows； and looked out at the Place。 The early dawn was
broadening between the pillars of the market； and the chemist's
shop； with the shutters still up； showed in the pale light of the
dawn the large letters of his signboard。
When the clock pointed to a quarter past seven； she went off to
the 〃Lion d'Or；〃 whose door Artemise opened yawning。 The girl
then made up the coals covered by the cinders； and Emma remained
alone in the kitchen。 Now and again she we