"The one you've on is good enough for the house, but you want another

for calls. I saw that the very moment that I came in. I've the eye of an

American!"

He did not send the stuff; he brought it. Then he came again to measure

it; he came again on other pretexts, always trying to make himself

agreeable, useful, "enfeoffing himself," as Homais would have said, and

always dropping some hint to Emma about the power of attorney. He never

mentioned the bill; she did not think of it. Charles, at the beginning

of her convalescence, had certainly said something about it to her,

but so many emotions had passed through her head that she no longer

remembered it. Besides, she took care not to talk of any money

questions. Madame Bovary seemed surprised at this, and attributed the

change in her ways to the religious sentiments she had contracted during

her illness.

But as soon as she was gone, Emma greatly astounded Bovary by her

practical good sense. It would be necessary to make inquiries, to look

into mortgages, and see if there were any occasion for a sale by auction

or a liquidation. She quoted technical terms casually, pronounced the

grand words of order, the future, foresight, and constantly exaggerated

the difficulties of settling his father's affairs so much, that at last

one day she showed him the rough draft of a power of attorney to manage

and administer his business, arrange all loans, sign and endorse all

bills, pay all sums, etc. She had profited by Lheureux's lessons.

Charles naively asked her where this paper came from.

"Monsieur Guillaumin"; and with the utmost coolness she added, "I don't

trust him overmuch. Notaries have such a bad reputation. Perhaps we

ought to consult--we only know--no one."

"Unless Leon--" replied Charles, who was reflecting. But it was

difficult to explain matters by letter. Then she offered to make the

journey, but he thanked her. She insisted. It was quite a contest of

mutual consideration. At last she cried with affected waywardness-"No, I will go!"

"How good you are!" he said, kissing her forehead.

The next morning she set out in the "Hirondelle" to go to Rouen to

consult Monsieur Leon, and she stayed there three days.




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