Page 34 - madame-bovary
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took his meals in the kitchen alone, opposite the fire, on a
little table brought to him all ready laid as on the stage.
*A mixture of coffee and spirits.
When, therefore, he perceived that Charles’s cheeks grew
red if near his daughter, which meant that he would pro-
pose for her one of these days, he chewed the cud of the
matter beforehand. He certainly thought him a little mea-
gre, and not quite the son-in-law he would have liked, but
he was said to be well brought-up, economical, very learned,
and no doubt would not make too many difficulties about
the dowry. Now, as old Rouault would soon be forced to sell
twenty-two acres of ‘his property,’ as he owed a good deal
to the mason, to the harness-maker, and as the shaft of the
cider-press wanted renewing, ‘If he asks for her,’ he said to
himself, ‘I’ll give her to him.’
At Michaelmas Charles went to spend three days at the
Bertaux.
The last had passed like the others in procrastinating
from hour to hour. Old Rouault was seeing him off; they
were walking along the road full of ruts; they were about to
part. This was the time. Charles gave himself as far as to the
corner of the hedge, and at last, when past it—
‘Monsieur Rouault,’ he murmured, ‘I should like to say
something to you.’
They stopped. Charles was silent.
‘Well, tell me your story. Don’t I know all about it?’ said
old Rouault, laughing softly.
‘Monsieur Rouault—Monsieur Rouault,’ stammered
Charles.