Page 312 - madame-bovary

wards. His cheek, with the soft skin reddened, she thought,
with desire of her person, and Emma felt an invincible long-
ing to press her lips to it. Then, leaning towards the clock as
if to see the time—
‘Ah! how late it is!’ she said; ‘how we do chatter!’
He understood the hint and took up his hat.
‘It has even made me forget the theatre. And poor Bovary
has left me here especially for that. Monsieur Lormeaux, of
the Rue Grand-Pont, was to take me and his wife.’
And the opportunity was lost, as she was to leave the
next day.
‘Really!’ said Leon.
‘Yes.’
‘But I must see you again,’ he went on. ‘I wanted to tell
you—‘
‘What?’
‘Something—important—serious. Oh, no! Besides, you
will not go; it is impossible. If you should—listen to me.
Then you have not understood me; you have not guessed—‘
‘Yet you speak plainly,’ said Emma.
‘Ah! you can jest. Enough! enough! Oh, for pity’s sake, let
me see you once—only once!’
‘Well—‘She stopped; then, as if thinking better of it, ‘Oh,
not here!’
‘Where you will.’
‘Will you—‘She seemed to reflect; then abruptly, ‘To-
morrow at eleven o’clock in the cathedral.’
‘I shall be there,’ he cried, seizing her hands, which she
disengaged.

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