Page 132 - madame-bovary

ny-a-liners, and all the stories of individual catastrophes
that had occurred in France or abroad. But the subject be-
coming exhausted, he was not slow in throwing out some
remarks on the dishes before him.
Sometimes even, half-rising, he delicately pointed out
to madame the tenderest morsel, or turning to the servant,
gave her some advice on the manipulation of stews and the
hygiene of seasoning.
He talked aroma, osmazome, juices, and gelatine in a be-
wildering manner. Moreover, Homais, with his head fuller
of recipes than his shop of jars, excelled in making all kinds
of preserves, vinegars, and sweet liqueurs; he knew also all
the latest inventions in economic stoves, together with the
art of preserving cheese and of curing sick wines.
At eight o’clock Justin came to fetch him to shut up the
shop.
Then Monsieur Homais gave him a sly look, especially
if Felicite was there, for he half noticed that his apprentice
was fond of the doctor’s house.
‘The young dog,’ he said, ‘is beginning to have ideas, and
the devil take me if I don’t believe he’s in love with your
servant!’
But a more serious fault with which he reproached Jus-
tin was his constantly listening to conversation. On Sunday,
for example, one could not get him out of the drawing-
room, whither Madame Homais had called him to fetch
the children, who were falling asleep in the arm-chairs, and
dragging down with their backs calico chair-covers that
were too large.

1 1