The Price He Paid — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

DR, BRUNNOW, JR., TO BE CONVERTED, 137 had lost much of her excessive timidity, where the doctor was concerned at least. To-day the young lady had discoursed long and earnestly to her companion, striving to make clear to him theerror of his ways; but no traces of contrition were visible on the sinner’s countenance; it beamed, on the contrary, with an expression of content such as these theological dis- quisitions invariably produced in him. “Well, now I must ask you tolend your atten- tion for amoment to the things of this earth,” he said, taking advantage of a pause in the lecture. “But the matter lam about to consult you on isa -secret which I must rely on you to keep discreetly, whether you grant the request | am going to make to you or not.” The girl opened wide eyes of astonishment on hearing this solemn preface. She promised silence, however, and listened eagerly for what should fol- low. | “You know Fraulein Gabrielle von Harder,” went on Max; “and my friend, Assessor Winterfeld, is not quite a stranger to you, | believe. I have heard, indeed, from his own lips that he has had the pleasure of calling on you once at home.” “Yes, [remember. He came to see papa.” “Well, the young Baroness von Harder and the assessor are in love with each other.” “Tn love!” repeated Agnes, with mingled surprise and confusion. The subject of the conversation seemed to her to verge on impropriety. “Head over ears in love,” said Max, emphatically. “The young lady’s guardian, Baron von Raven, and her mother, the Baroness von Harder, oppose their marriage, however, on the grounds that George Winterfeld can offer his future wife neither rank nor fortune. As for me, I have from the first been | the guardian angel of this attachment.” “You, doctor?” asked the girl, surveying the “ouardian angel” with a look eminently critical. “You think there is nothing very angelic about me?” asked Max, in his turn. ; “T think that, under any circumstances, it is sin- GOMmIIchboo Ss (E(0)