Page 155 - madame-bovary

priest, the clear voices of the boys still reached her ears, and
went on behind her.
‘Are you a Christian?’
‘Yes, I am a Christian.’
‘What is a Christian?’
‘He who, being baptized-baptized-baptized—‘
She went up the steps of the staircase holding on to the
banisters, and when she was in her room threw herself into
an arm-chair.
The whitish light of the window-panes fell with soft un-
dulations.
The furniture in its place seemed to have become more
immobile, and to lose itself in the shadow as in an ocean of
darkness. The fire was out, the clock went on ticking, and
Emma vaguely marvelled at this calm of all things while
within herself was such tumult. But little Berthe was there,
between the window and the work-table, tottering on her
knitted shoes, and trying to come to her mother to catch
hold of the ends of her apron-strings.
‘Leave me alone,’ said the latter, putting her from her
with her hand.
The little girl soon came up closer against her knees, and
leaning on them with her arms, she looked up with her
large blue eyes, while a small thread of pure saliva dribbled
from her lips on to the silk apron.
‘Leave me alone,’ repeated the young woman quite irri-
tably.
Her face frightened the child, who began to scream.
‘Will you leave me alone?’ she said, pushing her with her

1 Madame Bovary