The Opposite House: A Novel — page 70: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Opposite Flouse. 65 obliged to turn his horse and ride beside the oppo- site door. Marie was flushed and embarrassed; the young mill-owner, too, seemed strangely agitated. “T believe I have the honor of being your neigh- bor, /raulemn,” he said, bending toward her. And Marie trembled at the sound of the deep tones, which hitherto she had heard only in her dreams. “At least I am familiar with your name, Herr Gerrald,’’ she answered, softly. “I liked to look at your house, it seemed so ancient and vener- able.” Traugott could not turn his eyes from the embar rassed little face, whose large blue eyes were raised to his. It was the first time he had been so near her. Was she really beautiful? Her features were by no means regular, but delicate and full of feel- ing, and the expression of the eyes, the golden curls clustering around the temples, and the sweet girlish charm of her whole appearance rendered her irresistibly fascinating. “Yes, our old house is interesting, is it not?” he asked, smiling. “Doctor Brand became very en- thusiastic over the stone carving and the interior arrangement; he has discovered a quantity of treasures and marvels, which I should probably never have suspected. I mean curios, which re- quire a taste for antiquities.” CoMmicloo® cS C@ S|