The Price He Paid — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

A NEW PATIENT. 123 “Tt is not serious, if you will lead a sensible and natural life,” said Max, quite wrathfully; “but con- vent life is the climax of all thatis unnatural and absurd, and you would assuredly fall a victim to it before many years were over.” Agnes considered whether it would not become her speedily and at once to fly from this doctor, whose impiety was becoming more and more mani- fest; but she determined to cast one last searching _ glance into the depths of his depravity before going, so she asked in her turn: “You hate all monasteries and convents?” “It is my vocation to combat all the plagues and ills that afflict suffering humanity,” replied the young surgeon, with malicious sincerity. “And you hate religion as well?” “Well, that depends upon what you call by that name. Convents and religion are very different things, you know.” This was too much for the nun-elect. She hastened her steps, in order to escape from so dan- gerous a neighborhood; but she gained nothing by this strategy. Max immediately fell into her pace, and they continued side by side as before. “You are of acontrary opinion of course.” he ° b went on, no reply from her being forthcoming; “but you have been brought up in a different way of thinking, and amid different surroundings from those to which Iam accustomed. As for me, I should like to see all convents——” “Swept from the face of the earth?” put in the young girl, in a tremulous voice. “Not exactly that,” said practical Max. “It would bea pity to demolish somany handsome buildings, and their inhabitants might be turned to some useful account. The nuns, for instance, one might marry off.” “Marry off the nuns!” repeated Agnes, staring at the speaker in petrified horror and amazement. “Yes; why not?” he asked, with perfect equa- nimity. “I don’t suppose there would be much chance of opposition on their part. It really would Gomichboo S (E(0)