Page 370 - madame-bovary

Leon to glide between them subtly as if to separate them.
He did not dare to question her; but, seeing her so skilled,
she must have passed, he thought, through every experi-
ence of suffering and of pleasure. What had once charmed
now frightened him a little. Besides, he rebelled against his
absorption, daily more marked, by her personality. He be-
grudged Emma this constant victory. He even strove not
to love her; then, when he heard the creaking of her boots,
he turned coward, like drunkards at the sight of strong
drinks.
She did not fail, in truth, to lavish all sorts of attentions
upon him, from the delicacies of food to the coquettries of
dress and languishing looks. She brought roses to her breast
from Yonville, which she threw into his face; was anxious
about his health, gave him advice as to his conduct; and,
in order the more surely to keep her hold on him, hoping
perhaps that heaven would take her part, she tied a medal
of the Virgin round his neck. She inquired like a virtuous
mother about his companions. She said to him—
‘Don’t see them; don’t go out; think only of ourselves;
love me!’
She would have liked to be able to watch over his life;
and the idea occurred to her of having him followed in the
streets. Near the hotel there was always a kind of loafer who
accosted travellers, and who would not refuse. But her pride
revolted at this.
‘Bah! so much the worse. Let him deceive me! What does
it matter to me? As If I cared for him!’
One day, when they had parted early and she was re-