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conscience rather than the demands of social law。 In her； nobility of
feeling and action would ever be spontaneous； her judgment would
confirm the impulse of her heart。 She was destined to do right as a
pleasure before doing it as an obligation。 This distinction is the
peculiar sign of Christian education。 These principles； altogether
different from those that are taught to men； were suitable for a
woman；the spirit and the conscience of the home； the beautifier of
domestic life； the queen of her household。 All three of these old
preceptors followed the same method with Ursula。 Instead of recoiling
before the bold questions of innocence； they explained to her the
reasons of things and the best means of action； taking care to give
her none but correct ideas。 When； apropos of a flower； a star； a blade
of grass； her thoughts went straight to God； the doctor and the
professor told her that the priest alone could answer her。 None of
them intruded on the territory of the others； the doctor took charge
of her material well…being and the things of life； Jordy's department
was instruction； moral and spiritual questions and the ideas
appertaining to the higher life belonged to the abbe。 This noble
education was not； as it often is； counteracted by injudicious
servants。 La Bougival； having been lectured on the subject； and being；
moreover； too simple in mind and character to interfere； did nothing
to injure the work of these great minds。 Ursula； a privileged being；
grew up with good geniuses round her； and her naturally fine
disposition made the task of each a sweet and easy one。 Such manly
tenderness； such gravity lighted by smiles； such liberty without
danger； such perpetual care of soul and body made little Ursula； when
nine years of age； a well…trained child and delightful to behold。
Unhappily； this paternal trinity was broken up。 The old captain died
the following year； leaving the abbe and the doctor to finish his
work； of which； however； he had accomplished the most difficult part。
Flowers will bloom of themselves if grown in a soil thus prepared。 The
old gentleman had laid by for ten years past one thousand francs a
year； that he might leave ten thousand to his little Ursula； and keep
a place in her memory during her whole life。 In his will； the wording
of which was very touching； he begged his legatee to spend the four or
five hundred francs that came of her little capital exclusively on her
dress。 When the justice of the peace applied the seals to the effects
of his old friend； they found in a small room； which the captain had
allowed no one to enter； a quantity of toys； many of them broken；
while all had been used；toys of a past generation； reverently
preserved； which Monsieur Bongrand was； according to the captain's
last wishes； to burn with his own hands。
About this time it was that Ursula made her first communion。 The abbe
employed one whole year in duly instructing the young girl； whose mind
and heart； each well developed； yet judiciously balancing one another；
needed a special spiritual nourishment。 The initiation into a
knowledge of divine things which he gave her was such that Ursula grew
into the pious and mystical young girl whose character rose above all
vicissitudes； and whose heart was enabled to conquer adversity。 Then
began a secret struggle between the old man wedded to unbelief and the
young girl full of faith；long unsuspected by her who incited it；
the result of which had now stirred the whole town； and was destined
to have great influence on Ursula's future by rousing against her the
antagonism of the doctor's heirs。
During the first six months of the year 1824 Ursula spent all her
mornings at the parsonage。 The old doctor guessed the abbe's secret
hope。 He meant to make Ursula an unanswerable argument against him。
The old unbeliever； loved by his godchild as though she were his own
daughter； would surely believe in such artless candor； he could not
fail to be persuaded by the beautiful effects of religion on the soul
of a child； where love was like those trees of Eastern climes； bearing
both flowers and fruit； always fragrant； always fertile。 A beautiful
life is more powerful than the strongest argument。 It is impossible to
resist the charms of certain sights。 The doctor's eyes were wet； he
knew not how or why； when he saw the child of his heart starting for
the church； wearing a frock of white crape； and shoes of white satin；
her hair bound with a fillet fastened at the side with a knot of white
ribbon； and rippling upon her shoulders； her eyes lighted by the star
of a first hope； hurrying； tall and beautiful； to a first union； and
loving her godfather better since her soul had risen towards God。 When
the doctor perceived that the thought of immortality was nourishing
that spirit （until then within the confines of childhood） as the sun
gives life to the earth without knowing why； he felt sorry that he
remained at home alone。
Sitting on the steps of his portico he kept his eyes fixed on the iron
railing of the gate through which the child had disappeared； saying as
she left him： 〃Why won't you come； godfather？ how can I be happy
without you？〃 Though shaken to his very center； the pride of the
Encyclopedist did not as yet give way。 He walked slowly in a direction
from which he could see the procession of communicants； and
distinguish his little Ursula brilliant with exaltation beneath her
veil。 She gave him an inspired look； which knocked； in the stony
regions of his heart； on the corner closed to God。 But still the old
deist held firm。 He said to himself： 〃Mummeries！ if there be a maker
of worlds； imagine the organizer of infinitude concerning himself with
such trifles！〃 He laughed as he continued his walk along the heights
which look down upon the road to the Gatinais； where the bells were
ringing a joyous peal that told of the joy of families。
The noise of backgammon is intolerable to persons who do not know the
game； which is really one of the most difficult that was ever
invented。 Not to annoy his godchild； the extreme delicacy of whose
organs and nerves could not bear； he thought； without injury the noise
and the exclamations she did not know the meaning of； the abbe； old
Jordy while living； and the doctor always waited till their child was
in bed before they began their favorite game。 Sometimes the visitors
came early when she was out for a walk； and the game would be going on
when she returned； then she resigned herself with infinite grace and
took her seat at the window with her work。 She had a repugnance to the
game； which is really in the beginning very hard and unconquerable to
some minds； so that unless it be learned in youth it is almost
impossible to take it up in after life。
The night of her first communion； when Ursula came into the salon
where her godfather was sitting alone； she put the backgammon…board
before him。
〃Whose throw shall it be？〃 she asked。
〃Ursula；〃 said the doctor； 〃isn't it a sin to make fun of your
godfather the day of your first communion？〃
〃I am not making fun of you；〃 she said； sitting down。 〃I want to give
you some pleasureyou who are always on the look…out for mine。 When
Monsieur Chaperon was pleased with me he gave me a lesson in
backgammon； and he has given me so many that now I am quite strong
enough to beat youyou shall not deprive yourself any longer for me。
I have conquered all difficulties； and now I like the noise of the
game。〃
Ursula won。 The abbe had slipped in to enjoy his triumph。 The next
day Minoret； who had always refused to let Ursula learn music； sent to
Paris for a piano； made arrangements at Fontainebleau for a teacher；
and submitted to the annoyance that her constant practicing was to
him。 One of poor Jordy's predictions was fulfilled；the girl became
an excellent musician。 The doctor； proud of her talent； had lately
sent to Paris for a master； an old German named Schmucke； a
distinguished professor who came once a week； the doctor willingly
paying for an art which he had formerly declared to be useless in a
household。 Unbelievers do not like musica celestial language；
developed by Catholicism； which has taken the names of the seven notes
from one of the church hymns； every note being the first syllable of
the seven first lines in the hymn to Saint John。
The impression produced on the doctor by Ursula's first communion
though keen was not lasting。 The calm and sweet contentment which
prayer and the exercise of resolution produced in that young soul had
not their due influence upon him。 Having no reasons for remorse or
repentance himself； he enjoyed a serene peace。 Doing his own
benefactions without hope of a celestial harvest； he thought himself
on a nobler plane than religious men whom he always accused for
making； as he called it； terms with God。
〃But；〃 the abbe would say to him； 〃if all men would be so； you must