Page 41 - madame-bovary

fingers, then tried lifting carts on their shoulders, made
broad jokes, kissed the women. At night when they left, the
horses, stuffed up to the nostrils with oats, could hardly be
got into the shafts; they kicked, reared, the harness broke,
their masters laughed or swore; and all night in the light
of the moon along country roads there were runaway carts
at full gallop plunging into the ditches, jumping over yard
after yard of stones, clambering up the hills, with women
leaning out from the tilt to catch hold of the reins.
Those who stayed at the Bertaux spent the night drink-
ing in the kitchen. The children had fallen asleep under the
seats.
The bride had begged her father to be spared the usual
marriage pleasantries. However, a fishmonger, one of their
cousins (who had even brought a pair of soles for his wed-
ding present), began to squirt water from his mouth through
the keyhole, when old Rouault came up just in time to stop
him, and explain to him that the distinguished position of
his son-in-law would not allow of such liberties. The cousin
all the same did not give in to these reasons readily. In his
heart he accused old Rouault of being proud, and he joined
four or five other guests in a corner, who having, through
mere chance, been several times running served with the
worst helps of meat, also were of opinion they had been
badly used, and were whispering about their host, and with
covered hints hoping he would ruin himself.
Madame Bovary, senior, had not opened her mouth all
day. She had been consulted neither as to the dress of her
daughter-in-law nor as to the arrangement of the feast; she

0 Madame Bovary