her's rich library. And yet while
leading this busy life she suffered, though without complaint. Sometimes
she would sit for hours looking at Savinien's window. On Sundays she
would leave the church behind Madame de Portenduere and watch her
tenderly; for, in spite of the old lady's harshness, she loved her as
Savinien's mother. Her piety increased; she went to mass every morning,
for she firmly believed that her dreams were the gift of God.

At last her godfather, frightened by the effects produced by this
nostalgia of love, promised on her birthday to take her to Toulon to see
the departure of the fleet for Algiers. Savinien's ship formed part of
it, but he was not to be informed beforehand of their intention. The
abbe and Monsieur Bongrand kept secret the object of this journey,
said to be for Ursula's health, which disturbed and greatly puzzled the
relations. After beholding Savinien in his naval uniform, and going on
board the fine flag-ship of the admiral, to whom the minister had given
young Portenduere a special recommendation, Ursula, at her lover's
entreaty, went with her godfather to Nice, and along the shores of the
Mediterranean to Genoa, where she heard of the safe arrival of the fleet
at Algiers and the landing of the troops. The doctor would have liked to
continue the journey through Italy, as much to distract Ursula's mind as
to finish, in some sense, her education, by enlarging her ideas through
comparison with other manners and customs and countries, and by the
fascination of a land where the masterpieces of art can still be seen,
and where so many civilizations have left their brilliant traces. But
the tidings of the opposition by the throne to the newly elected Chamber
of 1830 obliged the doctor to return to France, bringing back his
treasure in a flourishing state of health and possessed of a charming
little model of the ship on which Savinien was serving.

The elections of 1830 united into an active body the various Minoret
relations,--Desire and Goupil having formed a committee in Nemours
by whose efforts a liberal candidate was put in nomination at
Fontainebleau. Massin, as collector of taxes, exercised an enormous
influence over the country electors. Five of the post master's farmers
were electors. Dionis represented eleven votes. After a few meetings
at the notary's, Cremiere, Massin, the post master, and their adherents
took a habit of assembling there. By the time the doctor returned,
Dioni