Page 63 - madame-bovary

not speak.
But towards the end of September something extraor-
dinary fell upon her life; she was invited by the Marquis
d’Andervilliers to Vaubyessard.
Secretary of State under the Restoration, the Marquis,
anxious to re-enter political life, set about preparing for
his candidature to the Chamber of Deputies long before-
hand. In the winter he distributed a great deal of wood, and
in the Conseil General always enthusiastically demanded
new roads for his arrondissement. During the dog-days he
had suffered from an abscess, which Charles had cured as
if by miracle by giving a timely little touch with the lancet.
The steward sent to Tostes to pay for the operation report-
ed in the evening that he had seen some superb cherries in
the doctor’s little garden. Now cherry trees did not thrive
at Vaubyessard; the Marquis asked Bovary for some slips;
made it his business to thank his personally; saw Emma;
thought she had a pretty figure, and that she did not bow
like a peasant; so that he did not think he was going beyond
the bounds of condescension, nor, on the other hand, mak-
ing a mistake, in inviting the young couple.
On Wednesday at three o’clock, Monsieur and Madame
Bovary, seated in their dog-cart, set out for Vaubyessard,
with a great trunk strapped on behind and a bonnet-box
in front of the apron. Besides these Charles held a bandbox
between his knees.
They arrived at nightfall, just as the lamps in the park
were being lit to show the way for the carriages.

Madame Bovary