ursula-第33章
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neighbour's godchild； little Ursula；would you oppose my marriage？〃
〃Yes； as long as I live；〃 she replied； 〃and after my death you would
be responsible for the honor and the blood of the Kergarouets and the
Portendueres。〃
〃Would you let me die of hunger and despair for the chimera of
nobility； which has no reality to…day unless it has the lustre of
great wealth？〃
〃You could serve France and put faith in God。〃
〃Would you postpone my happiness till after your death？〃
〃It would be horrible if you took it then；that is all I have to
say。〃
〃Louis XIV。 came very near marrying the niece of Mazarin； a parvenu。〃
〃Mazarin himself opposed it。〃
〃Remember the widow Scarron。〃
〃She was a d'Aubigne。 Besides； the marriage was in secret。 But I am
very old； my son；〃 she said； shaking her head。 〃When I am no more you
can； as you say； marry whom you please。〃
Savinien both loved and respected his mother； but he instantly； though
silently； set himself in opposition to her with an obstinacy equal to
her own； resolving to have no other wife than Ursula； to whom this
opposition gave； as often happens in similar circumstances； the value
of a forbidden thing。
When； after vespers； the doctor； with Ursula； who was dressed in pink
and white； entered the cold； stiff salon； the girl was seized with
nervous trembling； as though she had entered the presence of the queen
of France and had a favor to beg of her。 Since her confession to the
doctor this little house had assumed the proportions of a palace in
her eyes； and the old lady herself the social value which a duchess of
the Middle Ages might have had to the daughter of a serf。 Never had
Ursula measured as she did at that moment the distance which separated
Vicomte de Portenduere from the daughter of a regimental musician； a
former opera…singer and the natural son of an organist。
〃What is the matter； my dear？〃 said the old lady； making the girl sit
down beside her。
〃Madame； I am confused by the honor you have done me〃
〃My little girl；〃 said Madame de Portenduere； in her sharpest tone。 〃I
know how fond your uncle is of you； and I wished to be agreeable to
him； for he has brought back my prodigal son。〃
〃But； my dear mother；〃 said Savinien cut to the heart by seeing the
color fly into Ursula's face as she struggled to keep back her tears；
〃even if we were under no obligations to Monsieur le Chevalier
Minoret； I think we should always be most grateful for the pleasure
Mademoiselle has given us by accepting your invitation。〃
The young man pressed the doctor's hand in a significant manner；
adding： 〃I see you wear； monsieur； the order of Saint…Michel； the
oldest order in France； and one which confers nobility。〃
Ursula's extreme beauty； to which her almost hopeless love gave a
depth which great painters have sometimes conveyed in pictures where
the soul is brought into strong relief； had struck Madame de
Portenduere suddenly； and made her suspect that the doctor's apparent
generosity masked an ambitious scheme。 She had made the speech to
which Savinien replied with the intention of wounding the doctor in
that which was dearest to him； and she succeeded； though the old man
could hardly restrain a smile as he heard himself styled a
〃chevalier；〃 amused to observe how the eagerness of a lover did not
shrink from absurdity。
〃The order of Saint…Michel which in former days men committed follies
to obtain；〃 he said； 〃has now； Monsieur le vicomte； gone the way of
other privileges！ It is given only to doctors and poor artists。 The
kings have done well to join it to that of Saint…Lazare who was； I
believe； a poor devil recalled to life by a miracle。 From this point
of view the order of Saint…Michel and Saint…Lazare may be； for many of
us； symbolic。〃
After this reply； at once sarcastic and dignified； silence reigned；
which； as no one seemed inclined to break it； was becoming awkward；
when there was a rap at the door。
〃There is our dear abbe；〃 said the old lady； who rose； leaving Ursula
alone； and advancing to meet the Abbe Chaperon；an honor she had not
paid to the doctor and his niece。
The old man smiled to himself as he looked from his goddaughter to
Savinien。 To show offence or to complain of Madame de Portenduere's
manners was a rock on which a man of small mind might have struck； but
Minoret was too accomplished in the ways of the world not to avoid it。
He began to talk to the viscount of the danger Charles X。 was then
running by confiding the affairs of the nation to the Prince de
Polignac。 When sufficient time had been spent on the subject to avoid
all appearance of revenging himself by so doing； he handed the old
lady； in an easy； jesting way； a packet of legal papers and receipted
bills； together with the account of his notary。
〃Has my son verified them？〃 she said； giving Savinien a look； to which
he replied by bending his head。 〃Well； then the rest is my notary's
business；〃 she added； pushing away the papers and treating the affair
with the disdain she wished to show for money。
To abase wealth was； according to Madame de Portenduere's ideas； to
elevate the nobility and rob the bourgeoisie of their importance。
A few moments later Goupil came from his employer； Dionis； to ask for
the accounts of the transaction between the doctor and Savinien。
〃Why do you want them？〃 said the old lady。
〃To put the matter in legal form； there have been no cash payments。〃
Ursula and Savinien； who both for the first time exchanged a glance
with offensive personage； were conscious of a sensation like that of
touching a toad； aggravated by a dark presentiment of evil。 They both
had the same indefinable and confused vision into the future； which
has no name in any language； but which is capable of explanation as
the action of the inward being of which the mysterious Swedenborgian
had spoken to Doctor Minoret。 The certainty that the venomous Goupil
would in some way be fatal to them made Ursula tremble； but she
controlled herself； conscious of unspeakable pleasure in seeing that
Savinien shared her emotion。
〃He is not handsome； that clerk of Monsieur Dionis；〃 said Savinien；
when Goupil had closed the door。
〃What does it signify whether such persons are handsome or ugly？〃 said
Madame de Portenduere。
〃I don't complain of his ugliness；〃 said the abbe； 〃but I do of his
wickedness； which passes all bounds； he is a villain。〃
The doctor； in spite of his desire to be amiable； grew cold and
dignified。 The lovers were embarrassed。 If it had not been for the
kindly good…humor of the abbe； whose gentle gayety enlivened the
dinner； the position of the doctor and his niece would have been
almost intolerable。 At dessert； seeing Ursula turn pale； he said to
her：
〃If you don't feel well； dear child； we have only the street to
cross。〃
〃What is the matter； my dear？〃 said the old lady to the girl。
〃Madame；〃 said the doctor severely； 〃her soul is chilled； accustomed
as she is to be met by smiles。〃
〃A very bad education； monsieur；〃 said Madame de Portenduere。 〃Is it
not； Monsieur l'abbe？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Minoret； with a look at the abbe； who knew not how to
reply。 〃I have； it is true； rendered life unbearable to an angelic
spirit if she has to pass it in the world； but I trust I shall not die
until I place her in security； safe from coldness； indifference； and
hatred〃
〃Oh； godfatherI beg of yousay no more。 There is nothing the matter
with me；〃 cried Ursula； meeting Madame de Portenduere's eyes rather
than give too much meaning to her words by looking at Savinien。
〃I cannot know； madame；〃 said Savinien to his mother； 〃whether
Mademoiselle Ursula suffers； but I do know that you are torturing me。〃
Hearing these words； dragged from the generous young man by his
mother's treatment of herself； Ursula turned pale and begged Madame de
Portenduere
