下载辰思小说免费APP
“Whynotsecurethething，“saidBongrand，“whyrunanyrisks？“
“Whenyouarebetweentworisks，“repliedthedoctor，“avoidthemostrisky。“
BongrandcarriedthroughthebusinessofmakingUrsulaofagesopromptlythatthepaperswerereadybythedayshewastwenty。Thatanniversarywasthelastpleasureoftheolddoctorwho，seizedperhapswithapresentimentofhisend，gavealittleball，towhichheinvitedalltheyoungpeopleinthefamiliesofDionis，Cremiere，Minoret，andMassin。Savinien，Bongrand，theabbeandhistwoassistantpriests，theNemoursdoctor，andMesdamesZelieMinoret，Massin，andCremiere，togetherwitholdSchmucke，weretheguestsatagranddinnerwhichprecededtheball。
“IfeelIamgoing，“saidtheoldmantothenotarytowardsthecloseoftheevening。“Ibegyoutocometo-morrowanddrawupmyguardianshipaccountwithUrsula，soasnottocomplicatemypropertyaftermydeath。ThankGod！Ihavenotwithdrawnonepennyfrommyheirs，——Ihavedisposedofnothingbutmyincome。MessieursCremiere，Massin，andMinoretmynephewaremembersofthefamilycouncilappointedforUrsula，andIwishthemtobepresentattherenderingofmyaccount。“
Thesewords，heardbyMassinandquicklypassedfromonetoanotherroundtheball-room，pouredbalmintothemindsofthethreefamilies，whohadlivedinperpetualalternationsofhopeandfear，sometimesthinkingtheywerecertainofwealth，oftenerthattheyweredisinherited。
When，abouttwointhemorning，theguestswereallgoneandnooneremainedinthesalonbutSavinien，Bongrand，andtheabbe，theolddoctorsaid，pointingtoUrsula，whowascharminginherballdress；
“Toyou，myfriends，Iconfideher！Afewdaysmore，andIshallbeherenolongertoprotecther。Putyourselvesbetweenherandtheworlduntilsheismarried，——Ifearforher。“
Thewordsmadeapainfulimpression。Theguardian’saccount，renderedadayortwolaterinpresenceofthefamilycouncil，showedthatDoctorMinoretowedabalancetohiswardoftenthousandsixhundredfrancsfromthebequestofMonsieurdeJordy，andalsofromalittlecapitalofgiftsmadebythedoctorhimselftoUrsuladuringthelastfifteenyears，onbirthdaysandotheranniversaries。
Thisformalrenderingoftheaccountwasinsistedonbythejusticeofthepeace，whofeared(unhappily，withtoomuchreason)theresultsofDoctorMinoret’sdeath。
Thefollowingdaytheoldmanwasseizedwithaweaknesswhichcompelledhimtokeephisbed。Inspiteofthereservewhichalwayssurroundedthedoctor’shouseandkeptitfromobservation，thenewsofhisapproachingdeathspreadthroughthetown，andtheheirsbegantorunhitherandthitherthroughthestreets，likethepearlsofachapletwhenthestringisbroken。Massincalledatthehousetolearnthetruth，andwastoldbyUrsulaherselfthatthedoctorwasinbed。
TheNemoursdoctorhadremarkedthatwheneveroldMinorettooktohisbedhewoulddie；andthereforeinspiteofthecold，theheirstooktheirstandinthestreet，onthesquare，attheirowndoorsteps，talkingoftheeventsolonglookedfor，andwatchingforthemomentwhenthepriestsshouldappear，bearingthesacrament，withalltheparapher
