ursula-第25章
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mother's treatment of herself； Ursula turned pale and begged Madame de
Portenduere to excuse her； then she took her uncle's arm； bowed； left
the room； and returned home。 Once there； she rushed to the salon and
sat down to the piano； put her head in her hands； and burst into
tears。
〃Why don't you leave the management of your affairs to my old
experience； cruel child？〃 cried the doctor in despair。 〃Nobles never
think themselves under any obligations to the bourgeoisie。 When we do
them a service they consider that we do our duty； and that's all。
Besides； the old lady saw that you looked favorably on Savinien； she
is afraid he will love you。〃
〃At any rate he is saved！〃 said Ursula。 〃But ah！ to try to humiliate a
man like you！〃
〃Wait till I return； my child；〃 said the old man leaving her。
When the doctor re…entered Madame de Portenduere's salon he found
Dionis the notary； accompanied by Monsieur Bongrand and the mayor of
Nemours； witnesses required by law for the validity of deeds in all
communes where there is but one notary。 Minoret took Monsieur Dionis
aside and said a word in his ear； after which the notary read the
deeds aloud officially； from which it appeared that Madame de
Portenduere gave a mortgage on all her property to secure payment of
the hundred thousand francs； the interest on which was fixed at five
per cent。 At the reading of this last clause the abbe looked at
Minoret； who answered with an approving nod。 The poor priest whispered
something in the old lady's ear to which she replied；
〃I will owe nothing to such persons。〃
〃My mother leaves me the nobler part；〃 said Savinien to the doctor；
〃she will repay the money and charges me to show our gratitude。〃
〃But you will have to pay eleven thousand francs the first year to
meet the interest and the legal costs；〃 said the abbe。
〃Monsieur；〃 said Minoret to Dionis； 〃as Monsieur and Madame de
Portenduere are not in a condition to pay those costs； add them to the
amount of the mortgage and I will pay them。〃
Dionis made the change and the sum borrowed was fixed at one hundred
and seven thousand francs。 When the papers were all signed； Minoret
made his fatigue an excuse to leave the house at the same time as the
notary and witnesses。
〃Madame；〃 said the abbe； 〃why did you affront the excellent Monsieur
Minoret； who saved you at least twenty…five thousand francs on those
debts in Paris； and had the delicacy to give twenty thousand to your
son for his debts of honor？〃
〃Your Minoret is sly；〃 she said； taking a pinch of snuff。 〃He knows
what he is about。〃
〃My mother thinks he wishes to force me into marrying his niece by
getting hold of our farm；〃 said Savinien； 〃as if a Portenduere； son of
a Kergarouet； could be made to marry against his will。〃
An hour later； Savinien presented himself at the doctor's house； where
all the relatives had assembled； enticed by curiosity。 The arrival of
the young viscount produced a lively sensation； all the more because
its effect was different on each person present。 Mesdemoiselles
Cremiere and Massin whispered together and looked at Ursula； who
blushed。 The mothers said to Desire that Goupil was right about the
marriage。 The eyes of all present turned towards the doctor； who did
not rise to receive the young nobleman； but merely bowed his head
without laying down the dice…box； for he was playing a game of
backgammon with Monsieur Bongrand。 The doctor's cold manner surprised
every one。
〃Ursula； my child；〃 he said； 〃give us a little music。〃
While the young girl； delighted to have something to do to keep her in
countenance； went to the piano and began to move the green…covered
music…books； the heirs resigned themselves； with many demonstrations
of pleasure； to the torture and the silence about to be inflicted on
them； so eager were they to find out what was going on between their
uncle and the Portendueres。
In sometimes happens that a piece of music； poor in itself； when
played by a young girl under the influence of deep feeling； makes more
impression than a fine overture played by a full orchestra。 In all
music there is； besides the thought of the composer； the soul of the
performer； who； by a privilege granted to this art only； can give both
meaning and poetry to passages which are in themselves of no great
value。 Chopin proves； for that unresponsive instrument the piano； the
truth of this fact； already proved by Paganini on the violin。 That
fine genius is less a musician than a soul which makes itself felt；
and communicates itself through all species of music； even simple
chords。 Ursula； by her exquisite and sensitive organization； belonged
to this rare class of beings； and old Schmucke； the master； who came
every Saturday and who； during Ursula's stay in Paris was with her
every day； had brought his pupil's talent to its full perfection。
〃Rousseau's Dream；〃 the piece now chosen by Ursula； composed by Herold
in his young days； is not without a certain depth which is capable of
being developed by execution。 Ursula threw into it the feelings which
were agitating her being； and justified the term 〃caprice〃 given by
Herold to the fragment。 With soft and dreamy touch her soul spoke to
the young man's soul and wrapped it； as in a cloud； with ideas that
were almost visible。
Sitting at the end of the piano； his elbow resting on the cover and
his head on his left hand； Savinien admired Ursula； whose eyes； fixed
on the paneling of the wall beyond him； seemed to be questioning
another world。 Many a man would have fallen deeply in love for a less
reason。 Genuine feelings have a magnetism of their own； and Ursula was
willing to show her soul； as a coquette her dresses to be admired。
Savinien entered that delightful kingdom； led by this pure heart；
which； to interpret its feelings； borrowed the power of the only art
that speaks to thought by thought； without the help of words； or
color； or form。 Candor； openness of heart have the same power over a
man that childhood has； the same charm； the same irresistible
seductions。 Ursula was never more honest and candid than at this
moment； when she was born again into a new life。
The abbe came to tear Savinien from his dream； requesting him to take
a fourth hand at whist。 Ursula went on playing； the heirs departed；
all except Desire； who was resolved to find out the intentions of his
uncle and the viscount and Ursula。
〃You have as much talent as soul； mademoiselle；〃 he said； when the
young girl closed the piano and sat down beside her godfather。 〃Who is
your master？〃
〃A German； living close to the Rue Dauphine on the quai Conti；〃 said
the doctor。 〃If he had not given Ursula a lesson every day during her
stay in Paris he would have been here to…day。〃
〃He is not only a great musician；〃 said Ursula； 〃but a man of adorable
simplicity of nature。〃
〃Those lessons must cost a great deal；〃 remarked Desire。
The players smiled ironically。 When the game was over the doctor； who
had hitherto seemed anxious and pensive； turned to Savinien with the
air of a man who fulfills a duty。
〃Monsieur；〃 he said； 〃I am grateful for the feeling which leads you to
make me this early visit； but your mother attributes unworthy and
underhand motives to what I have done； and I should give her the right
to call them true if I did not request you to refrain from coming
here； in spite of the honor your visits are to me； and the pleasure I
should otherwise feel in cultivating your society。 Tell your mother
that if I do not beg her； in my niece's name and my own； to do us the
honor of dining here next Sunday it is because I am very certain that
she would find herself indisposed on that day。〃
The old man held out his hand to the young viscount； who pressed it
respectfully； saying：
〃You are quite right； monsieur。〃
He then withdrew； but not without a bow to Ursula； in which there was
more of sadness than disappointment。
Desire left the house at the same time； but he found it impossible to
exchange even a word with the young nobleman； who rushed into his own
house precipitately。
CHAPTER XIII
BETROTHAL OF HEARTS
This rupture between the Portendueres and Doctor Minoret gave talk
among the heirs for a week； they did homage to the genius of Dionis；
and regarded their inheritance as rescued。
So； in an age when ranks are leveled； when the mania for equality
puts everybody on one footing and threatens to destroy all bulwarks；
even military subordination；that last refuge of power in France；
where passions have now no other obstacles to overcome than personal
antipathies； or differences of fortune；the obstinacy of an old…
fashioned Breton woman and the dignity of Doctor Minoret created a
barrier between these lovers； which was to end； as such obstacles
often do； not in destroying but in strengthening love。 To an ardent
man a woman's value is that which she costs him； Savinien foresaw a
struggle； great efforts； many uncertainties； and already the young
girl was rendered dearer to him； he was resolved to win her。 Perhaps
our feelings obey the laws of nature as to the lastingness of her
creations； to a long life a long childhood。
The next morning； when they woke； Ursula and Savinien had the same
thought。 An intimate understanding of this kind would create love if
it were not already its most precious proof。 When the young girl
parted her curtains just far enough to let her eyes take in Savinien's
window； she saw the face of her lover above the fastening of his。 When
one reflects on the immense services that windows render to lovers it
seems natural and right that a tax should be levied on them。 Having
thus protested against her godfather's harshness； Ursula dropped the
curtain and opened her window to close the outer blinds； through which
she could continue to see without being seen herself。 Seven or eight
times during the day she went up to her room； always to find the young
viscount writing； tearing up what he had written； and then writing
againto her； no doubt！
The next morning when she woke La Bougival gave her the following
letter：
To Mademoiselle Ursula：
Mademoiselle；I do not conceal from myself the distrust a young
man inspires when he has placed himself in the position from which
your godfather's kindness released me。 I know that I must in
future give greater guarantees of good conduct than other men；
therefore； mademoiselle； it is with deep humility that I place
myself at your feet and ask you to consider my love。 This
declaration is not dictated by passion； it comes from an inward
certainty which involves the whole of life。 A foolish infatuation
for my young aunt； Madame de Kergarouet； was the cause of my going
to prison； will you not regard as a proof of my sincere love the
total disappearance of those wishes； of
