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church to let Madame de Portenduere go first； and then I walked behind
him。 I couldn't tell you how these little things excited me。 When I
reached home； I turned round to fasten the iron gate〃
〃Where was La Bougival？〃 asked the doctor。
〃Oh； I let her go to the kitchen；〃 said Ursula simply。 〃Then I saw
Monsieur Savinien standing quite still and looking at me。 Oh！
godfather； I was so proud； for I thought I saw a look in his eyes of
surprise and admirationI don't know what I would not do to make him
look at me again like that。 It seemed to me I ought to think of
nothing forevermore but pleasing him。 That glance is now the best
reward I have for any good I do。 From that moment I have thought of
him incessantly； in spite of myself。 Monsieur Savinien went back to
Paris that evening； and I have not seen him since。 The street seems
empty； he took my heart away with himbut he does not know it。〃
〃Is that all？〃 asked the old man。
〃All； dear godfather；〃 she said； with a sigh of regret that there was
not more to tell。
〃My little girl；〃 said the doctor； putting her on his knee； 〃you are
nearly sixteen and your womanhood is beginning。 You are now between
your blessed childhood； which is ending； and the emotions of love；
which will make your life a tumultuous one； for you have a nervous
system of exquisite sensibility。 What has happened to you； my child；
is love；〃 said the old man with an expression of deepest sadness；
〃love in its holy simplicity； love as it ought to be； involuntary；
sudden； coming like a thief who takes allyes； all！ I expected it。 I
have studied women； many need proofs and miracles of affection before
love conquers them； but others there are； under the influence of
sympathies explainable to…day by magnetic fluids； who are possessed by
it in an instant。 To you I can now tell allas soon as I saw the
charming woman whose name you bear； I felt that I should love her
forever； solely and faithfully； without knowing whether our characters
or persons suited each other。 Is there a second…sight in love？ What
answer can I give to that； I who have seen so many unions formed under
celestial auspices only to be ruptured later； giving rise to hatreds
that are well…nigh eternal； to repugnances that are unconquerable。 The
senses sometimes harmonize while ideas are at variance； and some
persons live more by their minds than by their bodies。 The contrary is
also true； often minds agree and persons displease。 These phenomena；
the varying and secret cause of many sorrows； show the wisdom of laws
which give parents supreme power over the marriages of their children；
for a young girl is often duped by one or other of these
hallucinations。 Therefore I do not blame you。 The sensations you feel；
the rush of sensibility which has come from its hidden source upon
your heart and upon your mind； the happiness with which you think of
Savinien； are all natural。 But； my darling child； society demands； as
our good abbe has told us； the sacrifice of many natural inclinations。
The destinies of men and women differ。 I was able to choose Ursula
Mirouet for my wife； I could go to her and say that I loved her； but a
young girl is false to herself if she asks the love of the man she
loves。 A woman has not the right which men have to seek the
accomplishment of her hopes in open day。 Modesty is to herabove all
to you； my Ursula；the insurmountable barrier which protects the
secrets of her heart。 Your hesitation in confiding to me these first
emotions shows me you would suffer cruel torture rather than admit to
Savinien〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 she said。
〃But； my child； you must do more。 You must repress these feelings； you
must forget them。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because； my darling； you must love only the man you marry； and； even
if Monsieur Savinien de Portenduere loved you〃
〃I never thought of it。〃
〃But listen： even if he loved you； even if his mother asked me to give
him your hand； I should not consent to the marriage until I had
subjected him to a long and thorough probation。 His conduct has been
such as to make families distrust him and to put obstacles between
himself and heiresses which cannot be easily overcome。〃
A soft smile came in place of tears on Ursula's sweet face as she
said； 〃Then poverty is good sometimes。〃
The doctor could find no answer to such innocence。
〃What has he done； godfather？〃 she asked。
〃In two years； my treasure； he has incurred one hundred and twenty
thousand francs of debt。 He has had the folly to get himself locked up
in Saint…Pelagie； the debtor's prison； an impropriety which will
always be； in these days； a discredit to him。 A spendthrift who is
willing to plunge his poor mother into poverty and distress might
cause his wife； as your poor father did； to die of despair。〃
〃Don't you think he will do better？〃 she asked。
〃If his mother pays his debts he will be penniless； and I don't know a
worse punishment than to be a nobleman without means。〃
This answer made Ursula thoughtful； she dried her tears； and said：
〃If you can save him； save him； godfather； that service will give you
a right to advise him； you can remonstrate〃
〃Yes；〃 said the doctor； imitating her； 〃and then he can come here； and
the old lady will come here； and we shall see them； and〃
〃I was thinking only of him；〃 said Ursula； blushing。
〃Don't think of him； my child； it would be folly；〃 said the doctor
gravely。 〃Madame de Portenduere； who was a Kergarouet； would never
consent； even if she had to live on three hundred francs a year； to
the marriage of her son； the Vicomte Savinien de Portenduere； with
whom？with Ursula Mirouet； daughter of a bandsman in a regiment；
without money； and whose fatheralas！ I must now tell you allwas
the bastard son of an organist； my father…in…law。〃
〃O godfather！ you are right； we are equal only in the sight of God。 I
will not think of him againexcept in my prayers；〃 she said； amid the
sobs which this painful revelation excited。 〃Give him what you meant
to give mewhat can a poor girl like me want？ah； in prison； he！〃
〃Offer to God your disappointments； and perhaps he will help us。〃
There was silence for some minutes。 When Ursula； who at first did not
dare to look at her godfather； raised her eyes； her heart was deeply
moved to see the tears which were rolling down his withered cheeks。
The tears of old men are as terrible as those of children are natural。
〃Oh what is it？〃 cried Ursula； flinging herself at his feet and
kissing his hands。 〃Are you not sure of me？〃
〃I； who longed to gratify all your wishes； it is I who am obliged to
cause the first great sorrow of your life！〃 he said。 〃I suffer as much
as you。 I never wept before； except when I lost my childrenand；
Ursula Yes；〃 he cried suddenly； 〃I will do all you desire！〃
Ursula gave him； through her tears a look that was vivid as lightning。
She smiled。
〃Let us go into the salon； darling；〃