Charlesfastenedhishorsetoatree；heranintotheroadandwaited。Halfanhourpassed，thenhecountednineteenminutesbyhiswatch。Suddenlyanoisewasheardagainstthewall；theshutterhadbeenthrownback；thehookwasstillswinging。
Thenextdaybynineo’clockhewasatthefarm。Emmablushedasheentered，andshegavealittleforcedlaughtokeepherselfincountenance。OldRouaultembracedhisfutureson-in-law。Thediscussionofmoneymatterswasputoff；moreover，therewasplentyoftimebeforethem，asthemarriagecouldnotdecentlytakeplacetillCharleswasoutofmourning，thatistosay，aboutthespringofthenextyear。
Thewinterpassedwaitingforthis。MademoiselleRouaultwasbusywithhertrousseau。PartofitwasorderedatRouen，andshemadeherselfchemisesandnightcapsafterfashion-platesthatsheborrowed。WhenCharlesvisitedthefarmer，thepreparationsfortheweddingweretalkedover；theywonderedinwhatroomtheyshouldhavedinner；theydreamedofthenumberofdishesthatwouldbewanted，andwhatshouldbeentrees。
Emmawould，onthecontrary，havepreferredtohaveamidnightweddingwithtorches，butoldRouaultcouldnotunderstandsuchanidea。Sotherewasaweddingatwhichforty-threepersonswerepresent，atwhichtheyremainedsixteenhoursattable，beganagainthenextday，andtosomeextentonthedaysfollowing。
ChapterFourTheguestsarrivedearlyincarriages，inone-horsechaises，two-wheeledcars，oldopengigs，waggonetteswithleatherhoods，andtheyoungpeoplefromthenearervillagesincarts，inwhichtheystoodupinrows，holdingontothesidessoasnottofall，goingatatrotandwellshakenup。Somecamefromadistanceofthirtymiles，fromGoderville，fromNormanville，andfromCany。
Alltherelativesofbothfamilieshadbeeninvited，quarrelsbetweenfriendsarranged，acquaintanceslongsincelostsightofwrittento。
>Fromtimetotimeoneheardthecrackofawhipbehindthehedge；
thenthegatesopened，achaiseentered。Gallopinguptothefootofthesteps，itstoppedshortandemptieditsload。Theygotdownfromallsides，rubbingkneesandstretchingarms。Theladies，wearingbonnets，hadondressesinthetownfashion，goldwatchchains，pelerineswiththeendstuckedintobelts，orlittlecolouredfichusfasteneddownbehindwithapin，andthatleftthebackoftheneckbare。Thelads，dressedliketheirpapas，seemeduncomfortableintheirnewclothesmanythatdayhand-sewedtheirfirstpairofboots，andbytheirsides，speakingneverawork，wearingthewhitedressoftheirfirstcommunionlengthenedfortheoccasionweresomebiggirlsoffourteenorsixteen，cousinsoreldersistersnodoubt，rubicund，bewildered，theirhairgreasywithrosepomade，andverymuchafraidofdirtyingtheirgloves。Astherewerenotenoughstable-boystounharnessallthecarriages，thegentlementurneduptheirsleevesandsetaboutitthemselves。Accordingtotheirdifferentsocialpositionstheyworetail-coats，overcoats，shootingjackets，cutaway-coats；finetail-coats，redolentoffamilyrespectability，thatonlycameoutofthewardrobeonstateoccasions；overcoatswithlongtailsflappinginthewindandroundcapesandpocketslikesacks；shootingjacketsofcoarsecloth，generallywornwithacapwithabrass-boundpeak；
veryshortcutaway-coatswithtwosmallbuttonsintheback，closetogetherlikeapairofeyes，andthetailsofwhichseemedcutoutofonepiecebyacarpenter’shatchet。Some，toobutthese，youmaybesure，wouldsitatthebottomofthetable，woretheirbestblouses——thatistosay，withcollarsturneddowntotheshoulders，thebackgatheredintosmallplaitsandthewaistfastenedverylowdownwithaworkedbelt。
Andtheshirtsstoodoutfromthechestslikecuirasses!Everyonehadjusthadhishaircut；earsstoodoutfromtheheads；theyhadbeenclose-shaved；afew，even，whohadhadtogetupbeforedaybreak，andnotbeenabletoseetoshave，haddiagonalgashesundertheirnosesorcutsthesizeofathree-francpiecealongthejaws，whichthefreshairenroutehadenflamed，sothatthegreatwhitebeamingfacesweremottledhereandtherewithreddabs。
Themairiewasamileandahalffromthefarm，andtheywentthitheronfoot，returninginthesamewayaftertheceremonyinthechurch。Theprocession，firstunitedlikeonelongcolouredscarfthatundulatedacrossthefields，alongthenarrowpathwindingamidthegreencorn，soonlengthenedout，andbrokeupintodifferentgroupsthatloiteredtotalk。Thefiddlerwalkedinfrontwithhisviolin，gaywithribbonsatitspegs。Thencamethemarriedpair，therelations，thefriends，allfollowingpell-mell；thechildrenstayedbehindamusingthemselvespluckingthebell-flowersfromoat-ears，orplayingamongstthemselvesunseen。Emma’sdress，toolong，trailedalittleontheground；
fromtimetotimeshestoppedtopullitup，andthendelicately，withherglovedhands，shepickedoffthecoarsegrassandthethistledowns，whileCharles，emptyhanded，waitedtillshehadfinished。OldRouault，withanewsilkhatandthecuffsofhisblackcoatcoveringhishandsuptothenails，gavehisarmtoMadameBovarysenior。AstoMonsieurBovarysenior，who，heartilydespisingallthesefolk，hadcomesimplyinafrock-coatofmilitarycutwithonerowofbuttons——hewaspassingcomplimentsofthebartoafairyoungpeasant。Shebowed，blushed，anddidnotknowwhattosay。Theotherweddinggueststalkedoftheirbusinessorplayedtricksbehindeachother’sbacks，eggingoneanotheroninadvancetobejolly。Thosewholistenedcouldalwayscatchthesqueakingofthefiddler，whowentonplayingacrossthefields。Whenhesawthattherestwerefarbehindhestoppedtotakebreath，slowlyrosinedhisbow，sothatthestringsshouldsoundmoreshrilly，thensetoffagain，byturnsloweringandraisinghisneck，thebettertomarktimeforhimself。Thenoiseoftheinstrumentdroveawaythelittlebirdsfromafar。
Thetablewaslaidunderthecart-shed。Onitwerefoursirloins，sixchickenfricassees，stewedveal，threelegsofmutton，andinthemiddleafineroastsucklingpig，flankedbyfourchitterlingswithsorrel。Atthecornersweredecantersofbrandy。Sweetbottled-ciderfrothedroundthecorks，andalltheglasseshadbeenfilledtothebrimwithwinebeforehand。Largedishesofyellowcream，thattrembledwiththeleastshakeofthetable，haddesignedontheirsmoothsurfacetheinitialsofthenewlyweddedpairinnonpareilarabesques。AconfectionerofYvetothadbeenintrustedwiththetartsandsweets。Ashehadonlyjustsetupontheplace，hehadtakenalotoftrouble，andatdesserthehimselfbroughtinasetdishthatevokedloudcriesofwonderment。Tobeginwith，atitsbasetherewasasquareofbluecardboard，representingatemplewithporticoes，colonnades，andstuccostatuettesallround，andinthenichesconstellationsofgiltpaperstars；thenonthesecondstagewasadungeonofSavoycake，surroundedbymanyfortificationsincandiedangelica，almonds，raisins，andquartersoforanges；andfinally，ontheupperplatformagreenfieldwithrockssetinlakesofjam，nutshellboats，andasmallCupidbalancinghimselfinachocolateswingwhosetwouprightsendedinrealrosesforballsatthetop。
Untilnighttheyate。Whenanyofthemweretootiredofsitting，theywentoutforastrollintheyard，orforagamewithcorksinthegranary，andthenreturnedtotable。Sometowardsthefinishwenttosleepandsnored。Butwiththecoffeeeveryonewokeup。Thentheybegansongs，showedofftricks，raisedheavyweights，performedfeatswiththeirfingers，thentriedliftingcartsontheirshoulders，madebroadjokes，kissedthewomen。Atnightwhentheyleft，thehorses，stuffeduptothenostrilswithoats，couldhardlybegotintotheshafts；theykicked，reared，theharnessbroke，theirmasterslaughedorswore；andallnightinthelightofthemoonalongcountryroadstherewererunawaycartsatfullgallopplungingintotheditches，jumpingoveryardafteryardofstones，clamberingupthehills，withwomenleaningoutfromthetilttocatchholdofthereins。
ThosewhostayedattheBertauxspentthenightdrinkinginthekitchen。Thechildrenhadfallenasleepundertheseats。
Thebridehadbeggedherfathertobesparedtheusualmarriagepleasantries。However，afishmonger，oneoftheircousinswhohadevenbroughtapairofsolesforhisweddingpresent，begantosquirtwaterfromhismouththroughthekeyhole，whenoldRouaultcameupjustintimetostophim，andexplaintohimthatthedistinguishedpositionofhisson-in-lawwouldnotallowofsuchliberties。Thecousinallthesamedidnotgiveintothesereasonsreadily。InhisheartheaccusedoldRouaultofbeingproud，andhejoinedfourorfiveotherguestsinacorner，whohaving，throughmerechance，beenseveraltimesrunningservedwiththeworsthelpsofmeat，alsowereofopiniontheyhadbeenbadlyused，andwerewhisperingabouttheirhost，andwithcoveredhintshopinghewouldruinhimself。
MadameBovary，senior，hadnotopenedhermouthallday。Shehadbeenconsultedneitherastothedressofherdaughter-in-lawnorastothearrangementofthefeast；shewenttobedearly。Herhusband，insteadoffollowingher，senttoSaint-Victorforsomecigars，andsmokedtilldaybreak，drinkingkirsch-punch，amixtureunknowntothecompany。Thisaddedgreatlytotheconsiderationinwhichhewasheld。
Charles，whowasnotofafacetiousturn，didnotshineatthewedding。Heansweredfeeblytothepuns，doublesentendres*，compliments，andchaffthatitwasfeltadutytoletoffathimassoonasthesoupappeared。
*Doublemeanings。
Thenextday，ontheotherhand，heseemedanotherman。Itwashewhomightratherhavebeentakenforthevirginoftheeveningbefore，whilstthebridegavenosignthatrevealedanything。Theshrewdestdidnotknowwhattomakeofit，andtheylookedatherwhenshepassednearthemwithanunboundedconcentrationofmind。ButCharlesconcealednothing。Hecalledher“mywife“，tutoyed*her，askedforherofeveryone，lookedforhereverywhere，andoftenhedraggedherintotheyards，wherehecouldbeseenfromfarbetweenthetrees，puttinghisarmaroundherwaist，andwalkinghalf-bendingoverher，rufflingthechemisetteofherbodicewithhishead。
*Usedthefamiliarformofaddress。
Twodaysaftertheweddingthemarriedpairleft。Charles，onaccountofhispatients，couldnotbeawaylonger。OldRouaulthadthemdrivenbackinhiscart，andhimselfaccompaniedthemasfarasVassonville。Hereheembracedhisdaughterforthelasttime，gotdown，andwenthisway。Whenhehadgoneaboutahundredpaceshestopped，andashesawthecartdisappearing，itswheelsturninginthedust，hegaveadeepsigh。Thenherememberedhiswedding，theoldtimes，thefirstpregnancyofhiswife；he，too，hadbeenveryhappythedaywhenhehadtakenherfromherfathertohishome，andhadcarriedheroffonapillion，trottingthroughthesnow，foritwasnearChristmas-time，andthecountrywasallwhite。Sheheldhimbyonearm，herbaskethangingfromtheother；thewindblewthelonglaceofherCauchoisheaddresssothatitsometimesflappedacrosshismouth，andwhenheturnedhisheadhesawnearhim，onhisshoulder，herlittlerosyface，smilingsilentlyunderthegoldbandsofhercap。Towarmherhandssheputthemfromtimetotimeinhisbreast。Howlongagoitallwas!Theirsonwouldhavebeenthirtybynow。Thenhelookedbackandsawnothingontheroad。Hefeltdrearyasanemptyhouse；andtendermemoriesminglingwiththesadthoughtsinhisbrain，addledbythefumesofthefeast，hefeltinclinedforamomenttotakeaturntowardsthechurch。Ashewasafraid，however，thatthissightwouldmakehimyetmoresad，hewentrightawayhome。
MonsieurandMadameCharlesarrivedatTostesaboutsixo’clock。
Theneighborscametothewindowstoseetheirdoctor’snewwife。
Theoldservantpresentedherself，curtsiedtoher，apologisedfornothavingdinnerready，andsuggestedthatmadame，inthemeantime，shouldlookoverherhouse。