Page 278 - madame-bovary

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

o begin with, he did not know how he could pay Mon-
Tsieur Homais for all the physic supplied by him, and
though, as a medical man, he was not obliged to pay for it,
he nevertheless blushed a little at such an obligation. Then
the expenses of the household, now that the servant was
mistress, became terrible. Bills rained in upon the house;
the tradesmen grumbled; Monsieur Lheureux especially
harassed him. In fact, at the height of Emma’s illness, the lat-
ter, taking advantage of the circumstances to make his bill
larger, had hurriedly brought the cloak, the travelling-bag,
two trunks instead of one, and a number of other things.
It was very well for Charles to say he did not want them.
The tradesman answered arrogantly that these articles had
been ordered, and that he would not take them back; be-
sides, it would vex madame in her convalescence; the doctor
had better think it over; in short, he was resolved to sue
him rather than give up his rights and take back his goods.
Charles subsequently ordered them to be sent back to the
shop. Felicite forgot; he had other things to attend to; then
thought no more about them. Monsieur Lheureux returned
to the charge, and, by turns threatening and whining, so
managed that Bovary ended by signing a bill at six months.
But hardly had he signed this bill than a bold idea occurred
to him: it was to borrow a thousand francs from Lheureux.