Emmamadehertoiletwiththefastidiouscareofanactressonherdebut。Shedidherhairaccordingtothedirectionsofthehairdresser，andputonthebaregedressspreadoutuponthebed。
　　Charles’strousersweretightacrossthebelly。
　　“Mytrouser-strapswillberatherawkwardfordancing，“hesaid。
　　“Dancing？“repeatedEmma。
　　“Yes!“
　　“Why，youmustbemad!Theywouldmakefunofyou；keepyourplace。Besides，itismorebecomingforadoctor，“sheadded。
　　Charleswassilent。HewalkedupanddownwaitingforEmmatofinishdressing。
　　Hesawherfrombehindintheglassbetweentwolights。Herblackeyesseemedblackerthanever。Herhair，undulatingtowardstheears，shonewithabluelustre；aroseinherchignontrembledonitsmobilestalk，withartificialdewdropsonthetipoftheleaves。Sheworeagownofpalesaffrontrimmedwiththreebouquetsofpomponrosesmixedwithgreen。
　　Charlescameandkissedheronhershoulder。
　　“Letmealone!“shesaid；“youaretumblingme。“
　　Onecouldheartheflourishoftheviolinandthenotesofahorn。Shewentdownstairsrestrainingherselffromrunning。
　　Dancinghadbegun。Guestswerearriving。Therewassomecrushing。
　　Shesatdownonaformnearthedoor。
　　Thequadrilleover，thefloorwasoccupiedbygroupsofmenstandingupandtalkingandservantsinliverybearinglargetrays。Alongthelineofseatedwomenpaintedfanswerefluttering，bouquetshalfhidsmilingfaces，andgoldstopperedscent-bottleswereturnedinpartly-closedhands，whosewhiteglovesoutlinedthenailsandtightenedonthefleshatthewrists。Lacetrimmings，diamondbrooches，medallionbraceletstrembledonbodices，gleamedonbreasts，clinkedonbarearms。
　　Thehair，well-smoothedoverthetemplesandknottedatthenape，borecrowns，orbunches，orspraysofmytosotis，jasmine，pomegranateblossoms，earsofcorn，andcorn-flowers。Calmlyseatedintheirplaces，motherswithforbiddingcountenanceswerewearingredturbans。
　　Emma’sheartbeatratherfasterwhen，herpartnerholdingherbythetipsofthefingers，shetookherplaceinalinewiththedancers，andwaitedforthefirstnotetostart。Butheremotionsoonvanished，and，swayingtotherhythmoftheorchestra，sheglidedforwardwithslightmovementsoftheneck。Asmilerosetoherlipsatcertaindelicatephrasesoftheviolin，thatsometimesplayedalonewhiletheotherinstrumentsweresilent；
　　onecouldheartheclearclinkofthelouisd’orthatwerebeingthrowndownuponthecardtablesinthenextroom；thenallstruckagain，thecornet-a-pistonuttereditssonorousnote，feetmarkedtime，skirtsswelledandrustled，handstouchedandparted；thesameeyesfallingbeforeyoumetyoursagain。
　　Afewmensomefifteenorso，oftwenty-fivetoforty，scatteredhereandthereamongthedancersortalkingatthedoorways，distinguishedthemselvesfromthecrowdbyacertainairofbreeding，whatevertheirdifferencesinage，dress，orface。
　　Theirclothes，bettermade，seemedoffinercloth，andtheirhair，broughtforwardincurlstowardsthetemples，glossywithmoredelicatepomades。Theyhadthecomplexionofwealth——thatclearcomplexionthatisheightenedbythepallorofporcelain，theshimmerofsatin，theveneerofoldfurniture，andthatanorderedregimenofexquisitenurturemaintainsatitsbest。Theirnecksmovedeasilyintheirlowcravats，theirlongwhiskersfellovertheirturned-downcollars，theywipedtheirlipsuponhandkerchiefswithembroideredinitialsthatgaveforthasubtleperfume。Thosewhowerebeginningtogrowoldhadanairofyouth，whiletherewassomethingmatureinthefacesoftheyoung。Intheirunconcernedlookswasthecalmofpassionsdailysatiated，andthroughalltheirgentlenessofmannerpiercedthatpeculiarbrutality，theresultofacommandofhalf-easythings，inwhichforceisexercisedandvanityamused——themanagementofthoroughbredhorsesandthesocietyofloosewomen。
　　AfewstepsfromEmmaagentlemaninabluecoatwastalkingofItalywithapaleyoungwomanwearingaparureofpearls。
　　TheywerepraisingthebreadthofthecolumnsofSt。Peter’s，Tivoly，Vesuvius，Castellamare，andCassines，therosesofGenoa，theColiseumbymoonlight。WithherotherearEmmawaslisteningtoaconversationfullofwordsshedidnotunderstand。Acirclegatheredroundaveryyoungmanwhotheweekbeforehadbeaten“MissArabella“and“Romolus，“andwontwothousandlouisjumpingaditchinEngland。Onecomplainedthathisracehorsesweregrowingfat；anotheroftheprinters’errorsthathaddisfiguredthenameofhishorse。
　　Theatmosphereoftheballwasheavy；thelampsweregrowingdim。
　　Guestswereflockingtothebilliardroom。Aservantgotuponachairandbrokethewindow-panes。AtthecrashoftheglassMadameBovaryturnedherheadandsawinthegardenthefacesofpeasantspressedagainstthewindowlookinginatthem。ThenthememoryoftheBertauxcamebacktoher。Shesawthefarmagain，themuddypond，herfatherinablouseundertheappletrees，andshesawherselfagainasformerly，skimmingwithherfingerthecreamoffthemilk-pansinthedairy。Butintherefulgenceofthepresenthourherpastlife，sodistinctuntilthen，fadedawaycompletely，andshealmostdoubtedhavinglivedit。Shewasthere；beyondtheballwasonlyshadowoverspreadingalltherest。Shewasjusteatingamaraschinoicethatsheheldwithherlefthandinasilver-giltcup，hereyeshalf-closed，andthespoonbetweenherteeth。
　　Aladynearherdroppedherfan。Agentlemenwaspassing。
　　“Wouldyoubesogood，“saidthelady，“astopickupmyfanthathasfallenbehindthesofa？“
　　Thegentlemanbowed，andashemovedtostretchouthisarm，Emmasawthehandofayoungwomanthrowsomethingwhite，foldedinatriangle，intohishat。Thegentleman，pickingupthefan，offeredittotheladyrespectfully；shethankedhimwithaninclinationofthehead，andbegansmellingherbouquet。
　　Aftersupper，wherewereplentyofSpanishandRhinewines，soupsalabisqueandaulaitd’amandes*，puddingsalaTrafalgar，andallsortsofcoldmeatswithjelliesthattrembledinthedishes，thecarriagesoneaftertheotherbegantodriveoff。Raisingthecornersofthemuslincurtain，onecouldseethelightoftheirlanternsglimmeringthroughthedarkness。Theseatsbegantoempty，somecard-playerswerestillleft；themusicianswerecoolingthetipsoftheirfingersontheirtongues。Charleswashalfasleep，hisbackproppedagainstadoor。
　　*Withalmondmilk20
　　Atthreeo’clockthecotillionbegan。Emmadidnotknowhowtowaltz。
　　Everyonewaswaltzing，Mademoiselled’AndervilliersherselfandtheMarquis；
　　onlytheguestsstayingatthecastlewerestillthere，aboutadozenpersons。
　　Oneofthewaltzers，however，whowasfamiliarlycalledViscount，andwhoselowcutwaistcoatseemedmouldedtohischest，cameasecondtimetoaskMadameBovarytodance，assuringherthathewouldguideher，andthatshewouldgetthroughitverywell。
　　Theybeganslowly，thenwentmorerapidly。Theyturned；allaroundthemwasturning——thelamps，thefurniture，thewainscoting，thefloor，likeadisconapivot。OnpassingnearthedoorsthebottomofEmma’sdresscaughtagainsthistrousers。
　　Theirlegscommingled；helookeddownather；sheraisedhereyestohis。Atorporseizedher；shestopped。Theystartedagain，andwithamorerapidmovement；theViscount，draggingheralongdisappearedwithhertotheendofthegallery，wherepanting，shealmostfell，andforamomentrestedherheaduponhisbreast。Andthen，stillturning，butmoreslowly，heguidedherbacktoherseat。Sheleanedbackagainstthewallandcoveredhereyeswithherhands。
　　Whensheopenedthemagain，inthemiddleofthedrawingroomthreewaltzerswerekneelingbeforealadysittingonastool。
　　ShechosetheViscount，andtheviolinstruckuponcemore。
　　Everyonelookedatthem。Theypassedandre-passed，shewithrigidbody，herchinbentdown，andhealwaysinthesamepose，hisfigurecurved，hiselbowrounded，hischinthrownforward。
　　Thatwomanknewhowtowaltz!Theykeptupalongtime，andtiredoutalltheothers。
　　Thentheytalkedafewmomentslonger，andafterthegoodnights，orrathergoodmornings，theguestsofthechateauretiredtobed。
　　Charlesdraggedhimselfupbythebalusters。His“kneesweregoingupintohisbody。“Hehadspentfiveconsecutivehoursstandingboltuprightatthecardtables，watchingthemplaywhist，withoutunderstandinganythingaboutit，anditwaswithadeepsighofreliefthathepulledoffhisboots。
　　Emmathrewashawloverhershoulders，openedthewindow，andleantout。
　　Thenightwasdark；somedropsofrainwerefalling。Shebreathedinthedampwindthatrefreshedhereyelids。Themusicoftheballwasstillmurmuringinherears。Andshetriedtokeepherselfawakeinordertoprolongtheillusionthatthisluxuriouslifethatshewouldsoonhavetogiveup。
　　Daybegantobreak。Shelookedlongatthewindowsofthechateau，tryingtoguesswhichweretheroomsofallthoseshehadnoticedtheeveningbefore。Shewouldfainhaveknowntheirlives，havepenetrated，blendedwiththem。Butshewasshiveringwithcold。Sheundressed，andcowereddownbetweenthesheetsagainstCharles，whowasasleep。
　　Therewereagreatmanypeopletoluncheon。Therepastlastedtenminutes；noliqueurswereserved，whichastonishedthedoctor。
　　Next，Mademoiselled“Andervillierscollectedsomepiecesofrollinasmallbaskettotakethemtotheswansontheornamentalwaters，andtheywenttowalkinthehot-houses，wherestrangeplants，bristlingwithhairs，roseinpyramidsunderhangingvases，whence，asfromover-fillednestsofserpents，felllonggreencordsinterlacing。Theorangery，whichwasattheotherend，ledbyacoveredwaytotheouthousesofthechateau。TheMarquis，toamusetheyoungwoman，tookhertoseethestables。
　　Abovethebasket-shapedracksporcelainslabsborethenamesofthehorsesinblackletters。Eachanimalinitsstallwhiskeditstailwhenanyonewentnearandsaid“Tchk!tchk!“Theboardsoftheharnessroomshoneliketheflooringofadrawingroom。Thecarriageharnesswaspiledupinthemiddleagainsttwotwistedcolumns，andthebits，thewhips，thespurs，thecurbs，wererangedinalineallalongthewall。
　　Charles，meanwhile，wenttoaskagroomtoputhishorseto。Thedog-cartwasbroughttothefootofthesteps，and，alltheparcelsbeingcrammedin，theBovaryspaidtheirrespectstotheMarquisandMarchionessandsetoutagainforTostes。
　　Emmawatchedtheturningwheelsinsilence。Charles，ontheextremeedgeoftheseat，heldthereinswithhistwoarmswideapart，andthelittlehorseambledalongintheshaftsthatweretoobigforhim。Theloosereinshangingoverhiscrupperwerewetwithfoam，andtheboxfastenedonbehindthechaisegavegreatregularbumpsagainstit。
　　TheywereontheheightsofThibourvillewhensuddenlysomehorsemenwithcigarsbetweentheirlipspassedlaughing。EmmathoughtsherecognizedtheViscount，turnedback，andcaughtonthehorizononlythemovementoftheheadsrisingorfallingwiththeunequalcadenceofthetrotorgallop。