Gustave Flaubert

“ Oh, you'll never be fit for anything but to herd animals with horns! You have no aptitude for science! You hardly know how to stick on a label! And there you are, dwelling with me snug as a parson, living in clover, taking your ease!"
But Emma, turning to Madame Homais, "I was told to come here—"
"Oh, dear me!" interrupted the good woman, with a sad air, "how am I to tell you? It is a misfortune!"
She could not finish, the druggist was thundering—"Empty it! Clean it! Take it back! Be quick!"
And seizing Justin by the collar of his blouse, he shook a book out of his pocket. ”

“ Hivert pulled in his horses and, the servant, climbing up to the window, said mysteriously—
"Madame, you must go at once to Monsieur Homais. It's for something important."
The village was silent as usual. At the corner of the streets were small pink heaps that smoked in the air, for this was the time for jam-making, and everyone at Yonville prepared his supply on the same day. But in front of the chemist's shop one might admire a far larger heap, and that surpassed the others with the superiority that a laboratory must have over ordinary stores, a general need over individual fancy. ”

“ Have you every vice, then, little wretch? Take care! you are on a downward path. Did not you reflect that this infamous book might fall in the hands of my children, kindle a spark in their minds, tarnish the purity of Athalie, corrupt Napoleon. ”

“ Then, passing to his trade, Lheureux declared that madame must require something. He would send her a black barege, twelve yards, just enough to make a gown.
"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 is already formed like a man. Are you quite sure, anyhow, that they have not read it? Can you certify to me—"
"But really, sir," said Emma, "you wished to tell me—"
"Ah, yes! madame. Your father-in-law is dead."
In fact, Monsieur Bovary senior had expired the evening before suddenly from an attack of apoplexy as he got up from table, and by way of greater precaution, on account of Emma's sensibility, Charles had begged Homais to break the horrible news to her gradually. Homais had thought over his speech ”