Until night they ate. When any of them were too tired of sitting, they

went out for a stroll in the yard, or for a game with corks in the

granary, and then returned to table. Some towards the finish went to

sleep and snored. But with the coffee everyone woke up. Then they began

songs, showed off tricks, raised heavy weights, performed feats with

their 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 drinking 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 wedding 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 went to bed early. Her husband, instead

of following her, sent to Saint-Victor for some cigars, and smoked till

daybreak, drinking kirsch-punch, a mixture unknown to the company. This

added greatly to the consideration in which he was held.

Charles, who was not of a facetious turn, did not shine at the wedding.

He answered feebly to the puns, doubles entendres*, compliments, and

chaff that it was felt a duty to let off at him as soon as the soup

appeared.

*Double meanings.

The next day, on the other hand, he seemed another man. It was he who

might rather have been taken for the virgin of the evening before,

whilst the bride gave no sign that revealed anything. The shrewdest did

not know what to make of it, and they looked at her when she passed

near them with an unbounded concentration of mind. But Charles concealed

nothing. He called her "my wife", tutoyed* her, asked for her of

everyone, looked for her everywhere, and often he dragged her into the

yards, where he could be seen from far between the trees, putting his

arm around her waist, and walking half-bending over her, ruffling the

chemisette of her bodice with his head.




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