Page:Novels of Honoré de Balzac Volume 23.djvu/219

 that this venomous Goupil would be fatal to them made Ursule tremble; but she recovered from her trouble by feeling an unspeakable pleasure in seeing Savinien sharing her emotion.

“He is not handsome, Monsieur Dionis’s clerk!” said Savinien when Goupil had shut the door.

“And what does it matter whether those people are handsome or ugly?” said Madame de Portenduère.

“I do not owe him a grudge for his ugliness,” rejoined the curé, “but for his malice, which is unbounded; there is villainy in it.”

In spite of his desire to be pleasant, the doctor became stately and cold. The two lovers were uneasy. But for the good nature of the Abbé Chaperon, whose gentle gaiety enlivened the dinner, the situation of the doctor and his ward would have been almost intolerable. At dessert, seeing Ursule turn pale, he said:

“If you do not feel well, my child, you have only to cross the road.”

“What is it, my love?” said the old lady to the young girl.

“Alas! madame,” rejoined the doctor, severely, “her soul is chilled, accustomed as she is to meet nothing but smiles.”

“A very bad education, Monsieur le Docteur,” said Madame de Portenduère. “Is it not so, Monsieur le Curé?”

“Yes, madame,” rejoined Minoret giving the curé a look which silenced him. “I see that I have made