Page 429 - madame-bovary

reconciling him to them.
He shut himself up in his consulting-room, took a pen,
and after sobbing for some time, wrote—
‘I wish her to be buried in her wedding-dress, with white
shoes, and a wreath. Her hair is to be spread out over her
shoulders. Three coffins, one of oak, one of mahogany, one
of lead. Let no one say anything to me. I shall have strength.
Over all there is to be placed a large piece of green velvet.
This is my wish; see that it is done.’
The two men were much surprised at Bovary’s romantic
ideas. The chemist at once went to him and said—
‘This velvet seems to me a superfetation. Besides, the ex-
pense—‘
‘What’s that to you?’ cried Charles. ‘Leave me! You did
not love her. Go!’
The priest took him by the arm for a turn in the garden.
He discoursed on the vanity of earthly things. God was very
great, was very good: one must submit to his decrees with-
out a murmur; nay, must even thank him.
Charles burst out into blasphemies: ‘I hate your God!’
‘The spirit of rebellion is still upon you,’ sighed the eccle-
siastic.
Bovary was far away. He was walking with great strides
along by the wall, near the espalier, and he ground his teeth;
he raised to heaven looks of malediction, but not so much
as a leaf stirred.
A fine rain was falling: Charles, whose chest was bare, at
last began to shiver; he went in and sat down in the kitch-
en.

Madame Bovary