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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 to excuse her； then she took her uncle's arm； bowed； left
the room； and returned home。 Once there； she rushed to the salon and
sat down to the piano； put her head in her hands； and burst into
tears。
〃Why don't you leave the management of your affairs to my old
experience； cruel child？〃 cried the doctor in despair。 〃Nobles never
think themselves under any obligations to the bourgeoisie。 When we do
them a service they consider that we do our duty； and that's all。
Besides； the old lady saw that you looked favorably on Savinien； she
is afraid he will love you。〃
〃At any rate he is saved！〃 said Ursula。 〃But ah！ to try to humiliate a
man like you！〃
〃Wait till I return； my child；〃 said the old man leaving her。
When the doctor re…entered Madame de Portenduere's salon he found
Dionis the notary； accompanied by Monsieur Bongrand and the mayor of
Nemours； witnesses required by law for the validity of deeds in all
communes where there is but one notary。 Minoret took Monsieur Dionis
aside and said a word in his ear； after which the notary read the
deeds aloud officially； from which it appeared that Madame de
Portenduere gave a mortgage on all her property to secure payment of
the hundred thousand francs； the interest on which was fixed at five
per cent。 At the reading of this last clause the abbe looked at
Minoret； who answered with an approving nod。 The poor priest whispered
something in the old lady's ear to which she replied；
〃I will owe nothing to such persons。〃
〃My mother leaves me the nobler part；〃 said Savinien to the doctor；
〃she will repay the money and charges me to show our gratitude。〃
〃But you will have to pay eleven thousand francs the first year to
meet the interest and the legal costs；〃 said the abbe。
〃Monsieur；〃 said Minoret to Dionis； 〃as Monsieur and Madame de
Portenduere are not in a condition to pay those costs； add them to the
amount of the mortgage and I will pay them。〃
Dionis made the change and the sum borrowed was fixed at one hundred
and seven thousand francs。 When the papers were all signed； Minoret
made his fatigue an excuse to leave the house at the same time as the
notary and witnesses。
〃Madame；〃 said the abbe； 〃why did you affront the excellent Monsieur
Minoret； who saved you at least twenty…five thousand francs on those
debts in Paris； and had the delicacy to give twenty thousand to your
son for his debts of honor？〃
〃Your Minoret is sly；〃 she said； taking a pinch of snuff。 〃He knows
what he is about。〃
〃My mother thinks he wishes to force me into marrying his niece by
getting hold of our farm；〃 said Savinien； 〃as if a Portenduere； son of
a Kergarouet； could be made to marry against his will。〃
An hour later； Savinien presented himself at the doctor's house； where
all the relatives had assembled； enticed by curiosity。 The arrival of
the young viscount produced a lively sensation； all the more because
its effect was different on each person present。 Mesdemoiselles
Cremiere and Massin whispered together and looked at Ursula； who
blushed。 The mothers said to Desire that Goupil was right about the
marriage。 The eyes of all present turned towards the doctor； who did
not rise to receive the young nobleman； but merely bowed his head
without laying down the dice…box； for he was playing a game of
backgammon with Monsieur Bongrand。 The doctor's cold manner surprised
every one。
〃Ursula； my child；〃 he said； 〃give us a little music。〃
While the young girl； delighted to have something to do to keep her in
countenance； went to the piano and began to move the green…covered
music…books； the heirs resigned themselves； with many demonstrations
of pleasure； to the torture and the silence about to be inflicted on
them； so eager were they to find out what was going on between their
uncle and the Portendueres。
In sometimes happens that a piece of music； poor in itself； when
played by a young girl under the influence of deep feeling； makes more
impression than a fine overture played by a full orchestra。 In all
music there is； besides the thought of the composer； the soul of the
performer； who； by a privilege granted to this art only； can give both
meaning and poetry to passages which are in themselves of no great
value。 Chopin proves； for that unresponsive instrument the piano； the
truth of this fact； already proved by Paganini on the violin。 That
fine genius is less a musician than a soul which makes itself felt；
and communicates itself through all species of music； even simple
chords。 Ursula； by her exquisite and sensitive organization； belonged
to this rare class of beings； and old Schmucke； the master； who came
every Saturday and who； during Ursula's stay in Paris was with her
every day； had brought his pupil's talent to its full perfection。
〃Rousseau's Dream；〃 the piece now chosen by Ursula； composed by Herold
in his young days； is not without a certain depth which is capable of
being developed by execution。 Ursula threw into it the feelings which
were agitating her being； and justified the term 〃caprice〃 given by
Herold to the fragment。 With soft and dreamy touch her soul spoke to
the young man's soul and wrapped it； as in a cloud； with ideas that
were almost visible。
Sitting at the end of the piano； his elbow resting on the cover and
his head on his left hand； Savinien admired Ursula； whose eyes； fixed
on the paneling of the wall beyond him； seemed to be questioning
another world。 Many a man would have fallen deeply in love for a less
reason。 Genuine feelings have a magnetism of their own； and Ursula was
willing to show her soul； as a coquette her dresses to be admired。
Savinien entered that delightful kingdom； led by this pure heart；
which； to interpret its feelings； borrowed the power of the only art
that speaks to thought by thought； without the help of words； or
color； or form。 Candor；