ursula-第10部分

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relations　who　accompanied　him。



In　giving　her　arm　to　her　godfather；　Ursula　was　obliged　to　hold　her

prayer…book　in　one　hand　and　her　parasol　in　the　other；　and　this　she　did

with　the　innate　grace　which　graceful　women　put　into　the　awkward　or

difficult　things　of　their　charming　craft　of　womanhood。　If　mind　does

truly　reveal　itself　in　all　things；　we　may　be　permitted　to　say　that

Ursula's　attitude　and　bearing　suggested　divine　simplicity。　She　was

dressed　in　a　white　cambric　gown　made　like　a　wrapper；　trimmed　here　and

there　with　knots　of　blue　ribbon。　The　pelerine；　edged　with　the　same

ribbon　run　through　a　broad　hem　and　tied　with　bows　like　those　on　the

dress；　showed　the　great　beauty　of　her　shape。　Her　throat；　of　a　pure

white；　was　charming　in　tone　against　the　blue；the　right　color　for　a

fair　skin。　A　long　blue　sash　with　floating　ends　defined　a　slender　waist

which　seemed　flexible；a　most　seductive　charm　in　women。　She　wore　a

rice…straw　bonnet；　modestly　trimmed　with　ribbons　like　those　of　the

gown；　the　strings　of　which　were　tied　under　her　chin；　setting　off　the

whiteness　of　the　straw　and　doing　no　despite　to　that　of　her　beautiful

complexion。　Ursula　dressed　her　own　hair　naturally　（a　la　Berthe；　as　it

was　then　called）　in　heavy　braids　of　fine；　fair　hair；　laid　flat　on

either　side　of　the　head；　each　little　strand　reflecting　the　light　as

she　walked。　Her　gray　eyes；　soft　and　proud　at　the　same　time；　were　in

harmony　with　a　finely　modeled　brow。　A　rosy　tinge；　suffusing　her

cheeks　like　a　cloud；　brightened　a　face　which　was　regular　without　being

insipid；　for　nature　had　given　her；　by　some　rare　privilege；　extreme

purity　of　form　combined　with　strength　of　countenance。　The　nobility　of

her　life　was　manifest　in　the　general　expression　of　her　person；　which

might　have　served　as　a　model　for　a　type　of　trustfulness；　or　of

modesty。　Her　health；　though　brilliant；　was　not　coarsely　apparent；　in

fact；　her　whole　air　was　distinguished。　Beneath　the　little　gloves　of　a

light　color　it　was　easy　to　imagine　her　pretty　hands。　The　arched　and

slender　feet　were　delicately　shod　in　bronzed　kid　boots　trimmed　with　a

brown　silk　fringe。　Her　blue　sash　holding　at　the　waist　a　small　flat

watch　and　a　blue　purse　with　gilt　tassels　attracted　the　eyes　of　every

woman　she　met。



〃He　has　given　her　a　new　watch！〃　said　Madame　Cremiere；　pinching　her

husband's　arm。



〃Heavens！　is　that　Ursula？〃　cried　Desire；　〃I　didn't　recognize　her。〃



〃Well；　my　dear　uncle；〃　said　the　post　master；　addressing　the　doctor　and

pointing　to　the　whole　population　drawn　up　in　parallel　hedges　to　let

the　doctor　pass；　〃everybody　wants　to　see　you。〃



〃Was　it　the　Abbe　Chaperon　or　Mademoiselle　Ursula　who　converted　you；

uncle；〃　said　Massin；　bowing　to　the　doctor　and　his　protegee；　with

Jesuitical　humility。



〃Ursula；〃　replied　the　doctor；　laconically；　continuing　to　walk　on　as　if

annoyed。



The　night　before；　as　the　old　man　finished　his　game　of　whist　with

Ursula；　the　Nemours　doctor；　and　Bongrand；　he　remarked；　〃I　intend　to　go

to　church　to…morrow。〃



〃Then；〃　said　Bongrand；　〃your　heirs　won't　get　another　night's　rest。〃



The　speech　was　superfluous；　however；　for　a　single　glance　sufficed　the

sagacious　and　clear…sighted　doctor　to　read　the　minds　of　his　heirs　by

the　expression　of　their　faces。　Zelie's　irruption　into　the　church；　her

glance；　which　the　doctor　intercepted；　this　meeting　of　all　the

expectant　ones　in　the　public　square；　and　the　expression　in　their　eyes

as　they　turned　them　on　Ursula；　all　proved　to　him　their　hatred；　now

freshly　awakened；　and　their　sordid　fears。



〃It　is　a　feather　in　your　cap；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　Madame　Cremiere；

putting　in　her　word　with　a　humble　bow；〃a　miracle　which　will　not　cost

you　much。〃



〃It　is　God's　doing；　madame；〃　replied　Ursula。



〃God！〃　exclaimed　Minoret…Levrault；　〃my　father…in…law　used　to　say　he

served　to　blanket　many　horses。〃



〃Your　father…in…law　had　the　mind　of　a　jockey；〃　said　the　doctor

severely。



〃Come；〃　said　Minoret　to　his　wife　and　son；　〃why　don't　you　bow　to　my

uncle？〃



〃I　shouldn't　be　mistress　of　myself　before　that　little　hypocrite；〃

cried　Zelie；　carrying　off　her　son。



〃I　advise　you；　uncle；　not　to　go　to　mass　without　a　velvet　cap；〃　said

Madame　Massin；　〃the　church　is　very　damp。〃



〃Pooh；　niece；〃　said　the　doctor；　looking　round　on　the　assembly；　〃the

sooner　I'm　put　to　bed　the　sooner　you'll　flourish。〃



He　walked　on　quickly；　drawing　Ursula　with　him；　and　seemed　in　such　a

hurry　that　the　others　dropped　behind。



〃Why　do　you　say　such　harsh　things　to　them？　it　isn't　right；〃　said

Ursula；　shaking　his　arm　in　a　coaxing　way。



〃I　shall　always　hate　hypocrites；　as　much　after　as　before　I　became

religious。　I　have　done　good　to　them　all；　and　I　asked　no　gratitude；　but

not　one　of　my　relatives　sent　you　a　flower　on　your　birthday；　which　they

know　is　the　only　day　I　celebrate。〃



At　some　distance　behind　the　doctor　and　Ursula　came　Madame　de

Portenduere；　dragging　herself　along　as　if　overcome　with　trouble。　She

belonged　to　the　class　of　old　women　whose　dress　recalls　the　style　of

the　last　century。　They　wear　puce…colored　gowns　with　flat　sleeves；　the

cut　of　which　can　be　seen　in　the　portraits　of　Madame　Lebrun；　they　all

have　black　lace　mantles　and　bonnets　of　a　shape　gone　by；　in　keeping

with　their　slow　and　dignified　deportment；　one　might　almost　fancy　that

they　still　wore　paniers　under　their　petticoats　or　felt　them　there；　as

persons　who　have　lost　a　leg　are　said　to　fancy　that　the　foot　is　moving。

They　swathe　their　heads　in　old　lace　which　declines　to　drape　gracefully

about　their　cheeks。　Their　wan　and　elongated　faces；　their　haggard　eyes

and　faded　brows；　are　not　without　a　certain　melancholy　grace；　in　spite

of　the　false　fronts　with　flattened　curls　to　which　they　cling；and　yet

these　ruins　are　all　subordinate　to　an　unspeakable　dignity　of　look　and

manner。



The　red　and　wrinkled　eyes　of　this　old　lady　showed　plainly　that　she　had

been　crying　during　the　service。　She　walked　like　a　person　in　trouble；

seemed　to　be　expecting　some　one；　and　looked　behind　her　from　time　to

time。　Now；　the　fact　of　Madame　de　Portenduere　looking　behind　her　was

really　as　remarkable　in　its　way　as　the　conversion　of　Doctor　Minoret。



〃Who　can　Madame　de　Portenduere　be　looking　for？〃　said　Madame　Massin；

rejoining　the　other　heirs；　who　were　for　the　moment　struck　dumb　by　the

doctor's　answer。



〃For　the　cure；〃　said　Dionis；　the　notary；　suddenly　striking　his

forehead　as　if　some　forgotten　thought　or　memory　had　occurred　to　him。

〃I　have　an　idea！　I'll　save　your　inheritance！　Let　us　go　and　breakfast

gayly　with　Madame　Minoret。〃



We　can　well　imagine　the　alacrity　with　which　the　heirs　followed　the

notary　to　the　post　house。　Goupil；　who　accompanied　his　friend　Desire；

locked　arm　in　arm　with　him；　whispered　something　in　the　youth's　ear

with　an　odious　smile。



〃What　do　I　care？〃　answered　the　son　of　the　house；　shrugging　his

shoulders。　〃I　am　madly　in　love　with　Florine；　the　most　celestial

creature　in　the　world。〃



〃Florine！　and　who　may　she　be？〃　demanded　Goupil。　〃I'm　too　fond　of　you

to　let　you　make　a　goose　of　yourself　wish　such　creatures。〃



〃Florine　is　the　idol　of　the　famous　Nathan；　my　passion　is　wasted；　I

know　that。　She　has　positively　refused　to　marry　me。〃



〃Sometimes　those　girls　who　are　fools　with　their　bodies　are　wise　with

their　heads；〃　responded　Goupil。



〃If　you　could　but　see　heronly　once；〃　said　Desire；　lackadaisically；

〃you　wouldn't　say　such　things。〃



〃If　I　saw　you　throwing　away　your　whole　future　for　nothing　better　than

a　fancy；〃　said　Goupil；　with　a　warmth　which　might　even　have　deceived

his　master；　〃I　would　break　your　doll　as　Varney　served　Amy　Robsart　in

'Kenilworth。'　Your　wife　must　be　a　d'Aiglement　or　a　Mademoiselle　du

Rouvre；　and　get　you　made　a　deputy。　My　future　depends　on　yours；　and　I

sha'n't　let　you　commit　any　follies。〃



〃I　am　rich　enough　to　care　only　for　happiness；〃　replied　Desire。



〃What　are　you　two　plotting　together？〃　cried　Zelie；　beckoning　to　the

two　friends；　who　were　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　courtyard；　to　come

into　the　house。



The　doctor　disappeared　into　the　Rue　des　Bourgeois　with　the　activity　of

a　young　man；　and　soon　reached　his　own　house；　where　strange　events　had

lately　taken　place；　the　visible　results　of　which　now　filled　the　minds

of　the　whole　community　of　Nemours。　A　few　explanations　are　needed　to

make　this　history　and　the　notary's　remark　to　the　heirs　perfectly

intelligible　to　the　reader。







CHAPTER　V



URSULA



The　father…in…law　of　Doctor　Minoret；　the　famous　harpsichordist　and

maker　of　instruments；　Valentin　Mirouet；　also　one　of　our　most

celebrated　organists；　died　in　1785　leaving　a　natural　son；　the　child　of

his　old　age；　whom　he　acknowledged　and　called　by　his　own　name；　but　who

turned　out　a　worthless　fellow。　He　was　deprived　on　his　death　bed　of　the

comfort　of　seeing　this　petted　son。　Joseph　Mirouet；　a　singer　and

composer；　having　made　his　debut　at　the　Italian　opera　under　a　feigned

name；　ran　away　with　a　young　lady　in　Germany。　The　dying　father

commended　the　young　man；　who　was　really　full　of　talent；　to　his　son…in…

law；　proving　to　him；　at　the　same　time；　that　he　had　refused　to　marry

the　mother　that　he　might　not　injure　Madame　Minoret。　The　doctor

promised　to　give　the　unfortunate　Joseph　half　of　whatever　his　wife

inherited　from　her　father；　whose　business　was　purchased　by　the　Erards。

He　made　due　search　for　his　illegitimate　brother…in…law；　but　Grimm

informed　him　one　day　that　after　enlisting　in　a　Prussian　regiment

Joseph　had　deserted　and　taken　a　false　name　and　that　all　efforts　to

find　him　would　be　frustrated。



Joseph　Mirouet；　gifted　by　nature　with　a　delightful　voice；　a　fine

figure；　a　handsome　face；　and　being　moreover　a　composer　of　great　taste

and　much　brilliancy；　led　for　over　fifteen　years　the　Bohemian　life

which　Hoffman　has　so　well　described。　So；　by　the　time　he　was　forty；　he

was　reduced　to　such　depths　of　poverty　that　he　took　advantage　of　the

events　of　1806　to　make　himself　once　more　a　Fre