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that speaks to thought by thought； without the help of words； or
color； or form。 Candor； openness of heart have the same power over a
man that childhood has； the same charm； the same irresistible
seductions。 Ursula was never more honest and candid than at this
moment； when she was born again into a new life。
The abbe came to tear Savinien from his dream； requesting him to take
a fourth hand at whist。 Ursula went on playing； the heirs departed；
all except Desire； who was resolved to find out the intentions of his
uncle and the viscount and Ursula。
〃You have as much talent as soul； mademoiselle；〃 he said； when the
young girl closed the piano and sat down beside her godfather。 〃Who is
your master？〃
〃A German； living close to the Rue Dauphine on the quai Conti；〃 said
the doctor。 〃If he had not given Ursula a lesson every day during her
stay in Paris he would have been here to…day。〃
〃He is not only a great musician；〃 said Ursula； 〃but a man of adorable
simplicity of nature。〃
〃Those lessons must cost a great deal；〃 remarked Desire。
The players smiled ironically。 When the game was over the doctor； who
had hitherto seemed anxious and pensive； turned to Savinien with the
air of a man who fulfills a duty。
〃Monsieur；〃 he said； 〃I am grateful for the feeling which leads you to
make me this early visit； but your mother attributes unworthy and
underhand motives to what I have done； and I should give her the right
to call them true if I did not request you to refrain from coming
here； in spite of the honor your visits are to me； and the pleasure I
should otherwise feel in cultivating your society。 Tell your mother
that if I do not beg her； in my niece's name and my own； to do us the
honor of dining here next Sunday it is because I am very certain that
she would find herself indisposed on that day。〃
The old man held out his hand to the young viscount； who pressed it
respectfully； saying：
〃You are quite right； monsieur。〃
He then withdrew； but not without a bow to Ursula； in which there was
more of sadness than disappointment。
Desire left the house at the same time； but he found it impossible to
exchange even a word with the young nobleman； who rushed into his own
house precipitately。
CHAPTER XIII
BETROTHAL OF HEARTS
This rupture between the Portendueres and Doctor Minoret gave talk
among the heirs for a week； they did homage to the genius of Dionis；
and regarded their inheritance as rescued。
So； in an age when ranks are leveled； when the mania for equality
puts everybody on one footing and threatens to destroy all bulwarks；
even military subordination；that last refuge of power in France；
where passions have now no other obstacles to overcome than personal
antipathies； or differences of fortune；the obstinacy of an old…
fashioned Breton woman and the dignity of Doctor Minoret created a
barrier between these lovers； which was to end； as such obstacles
often do； not in destroying but in strengthening love。 To an ardent
man a woman's value is that which she costs him； Savinien foresaw a
struggle； great efforts； many uncertainties； and already the young
girl was rendered dearer to him； he was resolved to win her。 Perhaps
our feelings obey the laws of nature as to the lastingness of her
creations； to a long life a long childhood。
The next morning； when they woke； Ursula and Savinien had the same
thought。 An intimate understanding of this kind would create love if
it were not already its most precious proof。 When the young girl
parted her curtains just far enough to let her eyes take in Savinien's
window； she saw the face of her lover above the fastening of his。 When
one reflects on the immense services that windows render to lovers it
seems natural and right that a tax should be levied on them。 Having
thus protested against her godfather's harshness； Ursula dropped the
curtain and opened her window to close the outer blinds； through which
she could continue to see without being seen herself。 Seven or eight
times during the day she went up to her room； always to find the young
viscount writing； tearing up what he had written； and then writing
againto her； no doubt！
The next morning when she woke La Bougival gave her the following
letter：
To Mademoiselle Ursula：
Mademoiselle；I do not conceal from myself the distrust a young
man inspires when he has placed himself in the position from which
your godfather's kindness released me。 I know that I must in
future give greater guarantees of good conduct than other men；
therefore； mademoiselle； it is with deep humility that I place
myself at your feet and ask you to consider my love。 This
declaration is not dictated by passion； it comes from an inward
certainty which involves the whole of life。 A foolish infatuation
for my young aunt； Madame de Kergarouet； was the cause of my going
to prison； will you not regard as a proof of my sincere love the
total disappearance of those wishes； of that image； now effaced
from my heart by yours？ No sooner did I see you； asleep and so
engaging in your childlike slumber at Bouron； than you occupied my
soul as a queen takes possession of her empire。 I will have no
other wife than you。 You have every qualification I desire in her
who is to bear my name。 The education you have received and the
dignity of your own mind； place you on the level of the highest
positions。 But I doubt myself too much to dare describe you to
yourself； I can only love you。 After listening to you yesterday I
recalled certain words which seem as though written for you；
suffer me to transcribe them：
〃Made to draw all hearts and charm all eyes； gentle and
intelligent； spiritual yet able to reason； courteous as though she
had passed her life at court； simple as the hermit who had never
known the world； the fire of her soul is tempered in her eyes by
sacred modesty。〃
I feel the value of the noble soul revealed in you by many； even
the most trifling； things。 This it is which gives me the courage
to ask you； provided you love no one else； to let me prove to you
by my conduct and my devotion that I am not unworthy of you。 It
concerns my very life； you cannot doubt that all my powers will be
employed； not only in trying to please you； but in deserving your
esteem； which is more precious to me than any other upon earth。
With this hope； Ursulaif you will suffer me so to call you in my
heartNemours will be to me a paradise； the hardest tasks will
bring me joys derived through you； as life itself is derived from
God。 Tell me that I may call myself
Your Savinien。
Ursula kissed the letter； then； having re…read it and clasped it with
passionate motions； she dressed herself eagerly to carry it to her
uncle。
〃Ah； my God！ I nearly forgot to say my prayers！〃 she exclaimed；
turning back to kneel on her prie…Dieu。
A few moments later she went down to the garden； where she found her
godfather and made him read the letter。 They both sat down on a bench
under the arch of climbing plants opposite to the Chinese pagoda。
Ursula awaited the old man's words； and the old man reflected long；
too long for the impatient young girl。 At last； the result of their
secret interview appeared in the following answer； part of which the
doctor undoubtedly dictated。
To Monsieur le Vicomte Savinien de Portenduere：
Monsieur；I cannot be otherwise than greatly honored by the
letter in which you offer me your hand； but； at my age； and
according to the rules of my education； I have felt bound to
communicate it to my godfather； who is all I have； and whom I love
as a father and also as a friend。 I must now tell you the painful
objections which he has made to me； and which must be to you my
answer。
Monsieur le vicomte； I am a poor girl； whose fortune depends
entirely； not only on my godfather's good…will； but also on the
doubtful success of the measures he may take to elude the schemes
of his relatives against me。 Though I am the legitimate daughter
of Joseph Mirouet； band…master of the 45th regiment of infantry；
my father himself was my godfather's natural half…brother； and
therefore these relatives may； though without reason； being a suit
against a young girl who would be defenceless。 You see； monsieur；
that the smallness of my fortune is not my greatest misfortune。 I
have many things to make me humble。 It is for your sake； and not
for my own； that I lay before you these facts； which to loving and
devoted hearts are sometimes of little weight。 But I beg you to
consider； monsieur； that if I did not submit them to you； I might
be suspected of leading your tenderness to overlook obstacles
which the world； and more especially your mother； regard as
insuperable。
I shall be sixteen in four months。 Perhaps you will admit that we
are both too young and too inexperienced to understand the
miseries of a l