The Price He Paid — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

GABRIELLE DEFENDS HER POSITION. 127 The baron was pursuing the wisest of tactics in pronouncing this most unequivocal threat. He was fully aware of Gabrielle’s unlimited power over her mother, and of that lady’s feebleness of character. The baroness had turned quite pale at the bare men- tion of any possible alteration in the will. “TI shall fulfill my duty as a mother to the utter- most point,” she said, solemnly. “Rest assured tbe} I shall not allow myself to be deceived a second ime.” The baron stood up. | “And now I wish to see Gabrielle. She has kept her room since yesterday on the plea of illness, but . I know that is only a pretext to avoid me. Tell her that 1am waiting for her here.” The baroness complied with her brother-in-law’s request. She went, and a few minutes later re- turned in her daughter’s company. “May I ask you to leave us for a short time, Matilda?’ said Raven. “You wish——” “T.-wish you to leave me and Gabrielle alone for a quarter of an hour.” The baroness was hardly able to conceal her mor- tification. Beyond all doubt she had the first and | best right to be present at the coming scene between judge and culprit, and yet the baron, with that utter disregard for her feelings which he always had shown, now sent her away, and reserved to him- self alone the important decision, disrespectfully ignoring her maternal claims. The baron remained alone with Gabrielle. She lingered at the farther end of the room, and he waited in vain for her to approach. “Gabrielle!” She advanced now a few steps, but stopped in evi- dent timidity and distrust. Raven went up to her. “ Are you afraid of me?” he asked. She shook her head negatively. “Then why do you shrink from me? Why are you so shy and silent? Have I really been so harsh to you that you wish to avoid me?” EoOmichboo <S (E()