Page 323 - madame-bovary

CHAPTER TWO

n reaching the inn, Madame Bovary was surprised not
Oto see the diligence. Hivert, who had waited for her
fifty-three minutes, had at last started.
Yet nothing forced her to go; but she had given her word
that she would return that same evening. Moreover, Charles
expected her, and in her heart she felt already that cowardly
docility that is for some women at once the chastisement
and atonement of adultery.
She packed her box quickly, paid her bill, took a cab in
the yard, hurrying on the driver, urging him on, every mo-
ment inquiring about the time and the miles traversed. He
succeeded in catching up the ‘Hirondelle’ as it neared the
first houses of Quincampoix.
Hardly was she seated in her corner than she closed her
eyes, and opened them at the foot of the hill, when from
afar she recognised Felicite, who was on the lookout in front
of the farrier’s shop. Hivert pulled in his horses and, the
servant, climbing up to the window, said mysteriously—
‘Madame, you must go at once to Monsieur Homais. It’s
for something important.’
The village was silent as usual. At the corner of the streets
were small pink heaps that smoked in the air, for this was the
time for jam-making, and everyone at Yonville prepared his
supply on the same day. But in front of the chemist’s shop

Madame Bovary