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第45章

ursula-第45章

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foster child with some allusion to the fortune she ought to have had;

or without comparing her miserable lot with the prospects the doctor

had promised; and of which he had often spoken to her; La Bougival。



〃It is not for myself I speak;〃 she said; 〃but is it likely that

monsieur; good and kind as he was; would have died without leaving me

the merest trifle?〃



〃Am I not here?〃 replied Ursula; forbidding La Bougival to say another

word on the subject。



She could not endure to soil the dear and tender memories that

surrounded that noble heada sketch of which in black and white hung

in her little salonwith thoughts of selfish interest。 To her fresh

and beautiful imagination that sketch sufficed to make her SEE her

godfather; on whom her thoughts continually dwelt; all the more

because surrounded with the things he loved and used;his large

duchess…sofa; the furniture from his study; his backgammon…table; and

the piano he had chosen for her。 The two old friends who still

remained to her; the Abbe Chaperon and Monsieur Bongrand; the only

visitors whom she received; were; in the midst of these inanimate

objects representative of the past; like two living memories of her

former life to which she attached her present by the love her

godfather had blessed。



After a while the sadness of her thoughts; softening gradually; gave

tone to the general tenor of her life and united all its parts in an

indefinable harmony; expressed by the exquisite neatness; the exact

symmetry of her room; the few flowers sent by Savinien; the dainty

nothings of a young girl's life; the tranquillity which her quiet

habits diffused about her; giving peace and composure to the little

home。 After breakfast and after mass she continued her studies and

practiced; then she took her embroidery and sat at the window looking

on the street。 At four o'clock Savinien; returning from a walk (which

he took in all weathers); finding the window open; would sit upon the

outer casing and talk with her for half an hour。 In the evening the

abbe and Monsieur Bongrand came to see her; but she never allowed

Savinien to accompany them。 Neither did she accept Madame de

Portenduere's proposition; which Savinien had induced his mother to

make; that she should visit there。



Ursula and La Bougival lived; moreover; with the strictest economy;

they did not spend; counting everything; more than sixty francs a

month。 The old nurse was indefatigable; she washed and ironed; cooked

only twice a week;mistress and maid eating their food cold on other

days; for Ursula was determined to save the seven hundred francs still

due on the purchase of the house。 This rigid conduct; together with

her modesty and her resignation to a life of poverty after the

enjoyment of luxury and the fond indulgence of all her wishes; deeply

impressed certain persons。 Ursula won the respect of others; and no

voice was raised against her。 Even the heirs; once satisfied; did her

justice。 Savinien admired the strength of character of so young a

girl。 From time to time Madame de Portenduere; when they met in

church; would address a few kind words to her; and twice she insisted

on her coming to dinner and fetched her herself。 If all this was not

happiness it was at least tranquillity。 But a benefit which came to

Ursula through the legal care and ability of Bongrand started the

smouldering persecution which up to this time had laid in Minoret's

breast as a dumb desire。



As soon as the legal settlement of the doctor's estate was finished;

the justice of peace; urged by Ursula; took the cause of the

Portendueres in hand and promised her to get them out of their

trouble。 In dealing with the old lady; whose opposition to Ursula's

happiness made him furious; he did not allow her to be ignorant of the

fact that his devotion to her service was solely to give pleasure to

Mademoiselle Mirouet。 He chose one of his former clerks to act for the

Portendueres at Fontainebleau; and himself put in a motion for a stay

of proceedings。 He intended to profit by the interval which must

elapse between the stoppage of the present suit and some new step on

the part of Massin to renew the lease at six thousand francs; get a

premium from the present tenants and the payment in full of the rent

of the current year。



At this time; when these matters had to be discussed; the former

whist…parties were again organized in Madame de Portenduere's salon;

between himself; the abbe; Savinien; and Ursula; whom the abbe and he

escorted there and back every evening。 In June; Bongrand succeeded in

quashing the proceedings; whereupon the new lease was signed; he

obtained a premium of thirty…two thousand francs from the farmer and a

rent of six thousand a year for eighteen years。 The evening of the day

on which this was finally settled he went to see Zelie; whom he knew

to be puzzled as to how to invest her money; and proposed to sell her

the farm at Bordieres for two hundred and twenty thousand francs。



〃I'd buy it at once;〃 said Minoret; 〃if I were sure the Portendueres

would go and live somewhere else。〃



〃Why?〃 said the justice of peace。



〃We want to get rid of the nobles in Nemours。〃



〃I did hear the old lady say that if she could settle her affairs she

should go and live in Brittany; as she would not have means enough

left to live her。 She is thinking of selling her house。〃



〃Well; sell it to me;〃 said Minoret。



〃To you?〃 said Zelie。 〃You talk as if you were master of everything。

What do you want with two houses in Nemours?〃



〃If I don't settle this matter of the farm with you to…night;〃 said

Bongrand; 〃our lease will get known; Massin will put in a fresh claim;

and I shall lose this chance of liquidation which I am anxious to

make。 So if you don't take my offer I shall go at once to Melun; where

some farmers I know are ready to buy the farm with their eyes shut。〃



〃Why did you come to us; then?〃 said Zelie。



〃Because you can pay me in cash; and my other clients would make me

wait some time for the money。 I don't want difficulties。〃



〃Get HER out of Nemours and I'll pay it;〃 exclaimed Minoret。



〃You understand that I cannot answer for Madame de Portenduere's

actions;〃 said Bongrand。 〃I can only repeat what I heard her say; but

I feel certain they will not remain in Nemours。〃



On this assurance; enforced by a nudge from Zelie; Minoret agreed to

the purchase; and furnished the funds to pay off the mortgage due to

the doctor's estate。 The deed of sale was immediately drawn up by

Dionis。 Towards the end of June Bongrand brought the balance of the

purchase money to Madame de Portenduere; advising her to invest it in

the Funds; where; joined to Savinien's ten thousand; it would give

her; at five per cent; an income of six thousand francs。 Thus; so far

from losing her resources; the old lady actually gained by the

transaction。 But she did not leave Nemours。 Minoret thought he had

been tricked;as though Bongrand had had an idea that Ursula's

presence was intolerable to him; and he felt a keen resentment which

embittered his hatred to his victim。 Then began a secret drama which

was terrible in its effects;the struggle of two determinations; one

which impelled Minoret to drive his victim from Nemours; the other

which gave Ursula the strength to bear persecution; the cause of which

was for a certain length of time undiscoverable。 The situation was a

strange and even unnatural one; and yet it was led up to by all the

preceding events; which served as a preface to what was now to occur。



Madame Minoret; to whom her husband had given a handsome silver

service costing twenty thousand francs; gave a magnificent dinner

every Sunday; the day on which her son; the deputy procureur; came

from Fontainebleau; bringing with him certain of his friends。 On these

occasions Zelie sent to Paris for delicaciesobliging Dionis the

notary to emulate her display。 Goupil; whom the Minore

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