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look that made it nearly interesting。 Naturally； through
indifference； he abandoned all the resolutions he had made。 Once
he missed a lecture； the next day all the lectures； and； enjoying
his idleness； little by little； he gave up work altogether。 He
got into the habit of going to the public…house； and had a
passion for dominoes。 To shut himself up every evening in the
dirty public room； to push about on marble tables the small sheep
bones with black dots； seemed to him a fine proof of his freedom；
which raised him in his own esteem。 It was beginning to see life；
the sweetness of stolen pleasures； and when he entered； he put
his hand on the door…handle with a joy almost sensual。 Then many
things hidden within him came out； he learnt couplets by heart
and sang them to his boon companions； became enthusiastic about
Beranger； learnt how to make punch； and； finally； how to make
love。
Thanks to these preparatory labours； he failed completely in his
examination for an ordinary degree。 He was expected home the same
night to celebrate his success。 He started on foot； stopped at
the beginning of the village； sent for his mother； and told her
all。 She excused him； threw the blame of his failure on the
injustice of the examiners； encouraged him a little； and took
upon herself to set matters straight。 It was only five years
later that Monsieur Bovary knew the truth； it was old then； and
he accepted it。 Moreover； he could not believe that a man born of
him could be a fool。
So Charles set to work again and crammed for his examination；
ceaselessly learning all the old questions by heart。 He passed
pretty well。 What a happy day for his mother！ They gave a grand
dinner。
Where should he go to practice？ To Tostes； where there was only
one old doctor。 For a long time Madame Bovary had been on the
look…out for his death； and the old fellow had barely been packed
off when Charles was installed； opposite his place； as his
successor。
But it was not everything to have brought up a son； to have had
him taught medicine； and discovered Tostes； where he could
practice it； he must have a wife。 She found him onethe widow of
a bailiff at Dieppewho was forty…five and had an income of
twelve hundred francs。 Though she was ugly； as dry as a bone； her
face with as many pimples as the spring has buds； Madame Dubuc
had no lack of suitors。 To attain her ends Madame Bovary had to
oust them all； and she even succeeded in very cleverly baffling
the intrigues of a port…butcher backed up by the priests。
Charles had seen in marriage the advent of an easier life；
thinking he would be more free to do as he liked with himself and
his money。 But his wife was master； he had to say this and not
say that in company； to fast every Friday； dress as she liked；
harass at her bidding those patients who did not pay。 She opened
his letter； watched his comings and goings； and listened at the
partition…wall when women came to consult him in his surgery。
She must have her chocolate every morning； attentions without
end。 She constantly complained of her nerves； her chest； her
liver。 The noise of footsteps made her ill； when people left her；
solitude became odious to her； if they came back； it was
doubtless to see her die。 When Charles returned in the evening；
she stretched forth two long thin arms from beneath the sheets；
put them round his neck； and having made him sit down on the edge
of the bed； began to talk to him of her troubles： he was
neglecting her； he loved another。 She had been warned she would
be unhappy； and she ended by asking him for a dose of medicine
and a little more love。
Chapter Two
One night towards eleven o'clock they were awakened by the noise
of a horse pulling up outside their door。 The servant opened the
garret…window and parleyed for some time with a man in the street
below。 He came for the doctor； had a letter for him。 Natasie came
downstairs shivering and undid the bars and bolts one after the
other。 The man left his horse； and； following the servant；
suddenly came in behind her。 He pulled out from his wool cap with
grey top…knots a letter wrapped up in a rag and presented it
gingerly to Charles； who rested on his elbow on the pillow to
read it。 Natasie； standing near the bed； held the light。 Madame
in modesty had turned to the wall and showed only her back。
This letter； sealed with a small seal in blue wax； begged
Monsieur Bovary to come immediately to the farm of the Bertaux to
set a broken leg。 Now from Tostes to the Bertaux was a good
eighteen miles across country by way of Longueville and
Saint…Victor。 It was a dark night； Madame Bovary junior was
afraid of accidents for her husband。 So it was decided the
stable…boy should go on first； Charles would start three hours
later when the moon rose。 A boy was to be sent to meet him； and
show him the way to the farm； and open the gates for him。
Towards four o'clock in the morning； Charles； well wrapped up in
his cloak； set out for the Bertaux。 Still sleepy from the warmth
of his bed； he let himself be lulled by the quiet trot of his
horse。 When it stopped of its own accord in front of those holes
surrounded with thorns that are dug on the margin of furrows；
Charles awoke with a start； suddenly remembered the broken leg；
and tried to call to mind all the fractures he knew。 The rain had
stopped； day was breaking； and on the branches of the leafless
trees birds roosted motionless； their little feathers bristling
in the cold morning wind。 The flat country stretched as far as
eye could see； and the tufts of trees round the farms at long
intervals seemed like dark violet stains on the cast grey
surface； that on the horizon faded into the gloom of the sky。
Charles from time to time opened his eyes； his mind grew weary；
and； sleep coming upon him； he soon fell into a doze wherein； his
recent sensations blending with memories； he became conscious of
a double self； at once student and married man； lying in his bed
as but now； and crossing the operation theatre as of old。 The
warm smell of poultices mingled in his brain with the fresh odour
of dew； he heard the iron rings rattling along the curtain…rods
of the bed and saw his wife sleeping。 As he passed Vassonville he
came upon a boy sitting on the grass at the edge of a ditch。
〃Are you the doctor？〃 asked the child。
And on Charles's answer he took his wooden shoes in his hands and
ran on in front of him。
The general practitioner； riding along； gathered from his guide's
talk that Monsieur Rouault must be one of the well…to…do farmers。
He had broken his leg the evening before on his way home from a
Twelfth…night feast at a neighbour's。 His wife had been dead for
two years。 There was with him only his daughter； who helped him
to keep house。
The ruts were becoming deeper； they were approaching the Bertaux。
The little lad； slipping through a hole in the hedge；
disappeared； then he came back to the end of a courtyard to open
the gate。 The horse slipped on the wet grass； Charles had to
stoop to pass under the branches。 The watchdogs in their kennels
barked； dragging at their chains。 As he entered the Bertaux； the
horse took fright and stumbled。
It was a substantial…looking farm。 In the stables； over the top
of the open doors； one could see great cart…horses quietly
feeding from new racks。 Right along the outbuildings extended a
large dunghill； from which manure liquid oozed； while amidst
fowls and turkeys； five or six peacocks； a luxury in Chauchois
farmyards； were foraging on the top of it。 The sheepfold was
long； the barn high； with walls smooth as your hand。 Under the
cart…shed were two large carts and four ploughs； with their
whips； shafts and harnesses complete； whose fleeces of blue wool
were getting soiled by the fine dust that fell from the
granaries。 The courtyard sloped upwards； planted with trees set
out symmetrically； and the chattering noise of a flock of geese
was heard near the pond。
A young woman in a blue merino dress with three flounces came to
the threshold of the door to receive Monsieur Bovary； whom she
led to the kitchen； where a large fire was blazing。 The servant's
breakfast was boiling beside it in small pots of all sizes。 Some