Dangerous Intimacy Through Small Gestures — Madame Bovary

When cold weather comes Emma moves to the sitting room near the window where she can watch the street. Léon walks past twice a day on his way to the inn. He never turns his head, but in the evening his shadow makes her shudder and she gets up to order dinner.

Homais joins them for dinner almost every night and talks about food, medicine, and the news. On card nights at the chemist's house Léon takes her shawl and stands behind her chair to help her play. Sometimes his boot touches her dress and he pulls back as if he has stepped on someone. They share magazines and poetry while Charles and Homais fall asleep by the fire. Léon brings her cactus plants for the window garden. For Charles's birthday he gives him a phrenological head.

Emma sends Léon a velvet rug for his room. The whole town decides they are lovers before he says a word. Léon talks about her charms all the time but cannot tell her how he feels. He writes letters and tears them up. Emma still believes real love must come suddenly like a storm. She does not see that small daily habits are already changing her life.