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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 Ger