reflectioncamelater。Now，ifyouhavethoroughlypossessedyourselfofthisman’snatureandbodilypresenceyouwillunderstandthemightyeffectproducedonhimbyathought。Remorseismorethanathought；itcomesfromafeelingwhichcannomorebehiddenthanlove；likelove，ithasitsowntyranny。But，justasMinorethadcommittedthecrimeagainstUrsulawithouttheslightestreflection，sohenowblindlylongedtodriveherfromNemourswhenhefelthimselfdisturbedbythesightofthatwrongedinnocence。Being，inasense，imbecile，heneverthoughtoftheconsequences；hewentfromdangertodanger，drivenbyaselfishinstinct，likeawildanimalwhichdoesnotforeseethehuntsman’sskill，andreliesonitsownrapidityorstrength。Beforelongtherichbourgeois，whostillmetinDionis’ssalon，noticedagreatchangeinthemannersandbehaviorofthemanwhohadhithertobeensofreeofcare。
　　“Idon’tknowwhathascometoMinoret，heisallNOHOW，“saidhiswife，fromwhomhewasresolvedtohidehisdaringdeed。
　　Everybodyexplainedhisconditionasbeing，neithermorenorless，ennuiinfactthethoughtnowexpressedonhisfacedidresembleennui，caused，theysaid，bythesuddencessationofbusinessandthechangefromanactivelifetooneofwell-to-doleisure。
　　WhileMinoretwasthinkingonlyofdestroyingUrsula’slifeinNemours，LaBougivalneverletadaygobywithouttorturingherfosterchildwithsomeallusiontothefortunesheoughttohavehad，orwithoutcomparinghermiserablelotwiththeprospectsthedoctorhadpromised，andofwhichhehadoftenspokentoher，LaBougival。
　　“ItisnotformyselfIspeak，“shesaid，“butisitlikelythatmonsieur，goodandkindashewas，wouldhavediedwithoutleavingmethemeresttrifle？——“
　　“AmInothere？“repliedUrsula，forbiddingLaBougivaltosayanotherwordonthesubject。
　　Shecouldnotenduretosoilthedearandtendermemoriesthatsurroundedthatnoblehead——asketchofwhichinblackandwhitehunginherlittlesalon——withthoughtsofselfishinterest。ToherfreshandbeautifulimaginationthatsketchsufficedtomakeherSEEhergodfather，onwhomherthoughtscontinuallydwelt，allthemorebecausesurroundedwiththethingshelovedandused，——hislargeduchess-sofa，thefurniturefromhisstudy，hisbackgammon-table，andthepianohehadchosenforher。Thetwooldfriendswhostillremainedtoher，theAbbeChaperonandMonsieurBongrand，theonlyvisitorswhomshereceived，were，inthemidstoftheseinanimateobjectsrepresentativeofthepast，liketwolivingmemoriesofherformerlifetowhichsheattachedherpresentbythelovehergodfatherhadblessed。
　　Afterawhilethesadnessofherthoughts，softeninggradually，gavetonetothegeneraltenorofherlifeandunitedallitspartsinanindefinableharmony，expressedbytheexquisiteneatness，theexactsymmetryofherroom，thefewflowerssentbySavinien，thedaintynothingsofayounggirl’slife，thetranquillitywhichherquiethabitsdiffusedabouther，givingpeaceandcomposuretothelittlehome。Afterbreakfastandaftermassshecontinuedherstudiesandpracticed；thenshetookherembroideryandsatatthewindowlookingonthestreet。Atfouro’clockSavinien，returningfromawalkwhichhetookinallweathers，findingthewindowopen，wouldsitupontheoutercasingandtalkwithherforhalfanhour。IntheeveningtheabbeandMonsieurBongrandcametoseeher，butsheneverallowedSavinientoaccompanythem。NeitherdidsheacceptMadamedePortenduere’sproposition，whichSavinienhadinducedhismothertomake，thatsheshouldvisitthere。
　　UrsulaandLaBougivallived，moreover，withthestrictesteconomy；
　　theydidnotspend，countingeverything，morethansixtyfrancsamonth。Theoldnursewasindefatigable；shewashedandironed；cookedonlytwiceaweek，——mistressandmaideatingtheirfoodcoldonotherdays；forUrsulawasdeterminedtosavethesevenhundredfrancsstilldueonthepurchaseofthehouse。Thisrigidconduct，togetherwithhermodestyandherresignationtoalifeofpovertyaftertheenjoymentofluxuryandthefondindulgenceofallherwishes，deeplyimpressedcertainpersons。Ursulawontherespectofothers，andnovoicewasraisedagainsther。Eventheheirs，oncesatisfied，didherjustice。Savinienadmiredthestrengthofcharacterofsoyoungagirl。FromtimetotimeMadamedePortenduere，whentheymetinchurch，wouldaddressafewkindwordstoher，andtwicesheinsistedonhercomingtodinnerandfetchedherherself。Ifallthiswasnothappinessitwasatleasttranquillity。ButabenefitwhichcametoUrsulathroughthelegalcareandabilityofBongrandstartedthesmoulderingpersecutionwhichuptothistimehadlaidinMinoret’sbreastasadumbdesire。
　　Assoonasthelegalsettlementofthedoctor’sestatewasfinished，thejusticeofpeace，urgedbyUrsula，tookthecauseofthePortendueresinhandandpromisedhertogetthemoutoftheirtrouble。Indealingwiththeoldlady，whoseoppositiontoUrsula’shappinessmadehimfurious，hedidnotallowhertobeignorantofthefactthathisdevotiontoherservicewassolelytogivepleasuretoMademoiselleMirouet。HechoseoneofhisformerclerkstoactforthePortendueresatFontainebleau，andhimselfputinamotionforastayofproceedings。HeintendedtoprofitbytheintervalwhichmustelapsebetweenthestoppageofthepresentsuitandsomenewsteponthepartofMassintorenewtheleaseatsixthousandfrancs，getapremiumfromthepresenttenantsandthepaymentinfulloftherentofthecurrentyear。
　　Atthistime，whenthesemattershadtobediscussed，theformerwhist-partieswereagainorganizedinMadamedePortenduere’ssalon，betweenhimself，theabbe，Savinien，andUrsula，whomtheabbeandheescortedthereandbackeveryevening。InJune，Bongrandsucceededinquashingtheproceedings；whereuponthenewleasewassigned；heobtainedapremiumofthirty-twothousandfrancsfromthefarmerandarentofsixthousandayearforeighteenyears。TheeveningofthedayonwhichthiswasfinallysettledhewenttoseeZelie，whomheknewtobepuzzledastohowtoinvesthermoney，andproposedtosellherthefarmatBordieresfortwohundredandtwentythousandfrancs。
　　“I’dbuyitatonce，“saidMinoret，“ifIweresurethePortenduereswouldgoandlivesomewhereelse。“
　　“Why？“saidthejusticeofpeace。
　　“WewanttogetridofthenoblesinNemours。“
　　“IdidheartheoldladysaythatifshecouldsettleheraffairssheshouldgoandliveinBrittany，asshewouldnothavemeansenoughlefttoliveher。Sheisthinkingofsellingherhouse。“
　　“Well，sellittome，“saidMinoret。
　　“Toyou？“saidZelie。“Youtalkasifyouweremasterofeverything。
　　WhatdoyouwantwithtwohousesinNemours？“
　　“IfIdon’tsettlethismatterofthefarmwithyouto-night，“saidBongrand，“ourleasewillgetknown，Massinwillputinafreshclaim，andIshalllosethischanceofliquidationwhichIamanxioustomake。Soifyoudon’ttakemyofferIshallgoatoncetoMelun，wheresomefarmersIknowarereadytobuythefarmwiththeireyesshut。“
　　“Whydidyoucometous，then？“saidZelie。
　　“Becauseyoucanpaymeincash，andmyotherclientswouldmakemewaitsometimeforthemoney。Idon’twantdifficulties。“
　　“GetHERoutofNemoursandI’llpayit，“exclaimedMinoret。
　　“YouunderstandthatIcannotanswerforMadamedePortenduere’sactions，“saidBongrand。“IcanonlyrepeatwhatIheardhersay，butIfeelcertaintheywillnotremaininNemours。“
　　Onthisassurance，enforcedbyanudgefromZelie，Minoretagreedtothepurchase，andfurnishedthefundstopayoffthemortgageduetothedoctor’sestate。ThedeedofsalewasimmediatelydrawnupbyDionis。TowardstheendofJuneBongrandbroughtthebalanceofthepurchasemoneytoMadamedePortenduere，advisinghertoinvestitintheFunds，where，joinedtoSavinien’stenthousand，itwouldgiveher，atfivepercent，anincomeofsixthousandfrancs。Thus，sofarfromlosingherresources，theoldladyactuallygainedbythetransaction。ButshedidnotleaveNemours。Minoretthoughthehadbeentricked，——asthoughBongrandhadhadanideathatUrsula’spresencewasintolerabletohim；andhefeltakeenresentmentwhichembitteredhishatredtohisvictim。Thenbeganasecretdramawhichwasterribleinitseffects，——thestruggleoftwodeterminations；onewhichimpelledMinorettodrivehisvictimfromNemours，theotherwhichgaveUrsulathestrengthtobearpersecution，thecauseofwhichwasforacertainlengthoftimeundiscoverable。Thesituationwasastrangeandevenunnaturalone，andyetitwasleduptobyalltheprecedingevents，whichservedasaprefacetowhatwasnowtooccur。
　　MadameMinoret，towhomherhusbandhadgivenahandsomesilverservicecostingtwentythousandfrancs，gaveamagnificentdinnereverySunday，thedayonwhichherson，thedeputyprocureur，camefromFontainebleau，bringingwithhimcertainofhisfriends。OntheseoccasionsZeliesenttoParisfordelicacies——obligingDionisthenotarytoemulateherdisplay。Goupil，whomtheMinoretsendeavoredtoignoreasaquestionablepersonwhomighttarnishtheirsplendor，wasnotinviteduntiltheendofJuly。Theclerk，whowasfullyawareofthisintendedneglect，wasforcedtoberespectfultoDesire，who，sincehisentranceintooffice，hadassumedahaughtyanddignifiedair，eveninhisownfamily。
　　“YoumusthaveforgottenEsther，“Goupilsaidtohim，“asyouaresomuchinlovewithMademoiselleMirouet。“
　　“Inthefirstplace，Estherisdead，monsieur；andinthenextIhavenevereventhoughtofUrsula，“saidthenewmagistrate。
　　“Why，whatdidyoutellme，papaMinoret？“criedGoupil，insolently。
　　Minoret，caughtinaliebyamanwhomhefeared，wouldhavelostcountenanceifithadnotbeenforaprojectinhishead，whichwas，infact，thereasonwhyGoupilwasinvitedtodinner，——MinorethavingrememberedthepropositiontheclerkhadoncemadetopreventthemarriagebetweenSavinienandUrsula。Forallanswer，heledGoupilhurriedlytotheendofthegarden。
　　“You’llsoonbetwenty-eightyearsold，mygoodfellow，“saidhe，“andIdon’tseethatyouareontheroadtofortune。Iwishyouwell，forafterallyouwereoncemyson’scompanion。Listentome。IfyoucanpersuadethatlittleMirouet，whopossessesinherownrightfortythousandfrancs，tomarryyou，Iwillgiveyou，astrueasmynameisMinoret，themeanstobuyanotary’spracticeatOrleans。“
　　“No，“saidGoupil，“that’stoofaroutoftheway；butMontargis——“
　　“No，“saidMinoret；“Sens。“