Page:Novels of Honoré de Balzac Volume 23.djvu/101

 liberty that the doctor allowed the body. Ursule learnt whilst she was playing. Religion restrained reflection. Given up to the divine culture of a disposition led into pure regions by these three prudent instructors, Ursule was more inclined to sentiment than duty, and took the voice of Conscience rather than the social law as her rule of conduct. With her, whatever was beautiful in feelings or actions had to be spontaneous; her judgment would confirm the impulse of the heart. She was meant to do good as a pleasure before doing it as an obligation. This distinction is the characteristic of the Christian religion. These principles, more than any others made for mankind, become a woman, the genius and conscience of the family, the secret refinement of domestic life, in fact, almost a queen in the bosom of the household. All three proceeded in the same way with the child. Far from shrinking from the audacity of innocence, they would explain to Ursule the purpose of things and all known means whilst never formulating any but the most accurate ideas for her. When, in regard to a plant, a flower or a star she would make direct inquiries about God, the professor and the doctor would tell her that the priest alone could answer her. None of them ever encroached on the others’ territory. The godfather undertook all material well-being and things of this life; the education concerned Jordy; the morals, metaphysics and higher questions belonged to the curé. This splendid education was not thwarted by injudicious servants, as so often happens in the