The Price He Paid — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

A SICK-BED CONFESSION. 193 Christine grew somewhat irritated. She looked the patient sternly in the face, and said, without any beating about the bush: “What’s allthis thatis going on between you and Fraulein Agnes, doctor? There is something underneath, something hidden; I have seen that for a long while.” Max preferred to make no answer; but this availed him little. The housekeeper went on, in her blunt, straightforward way: “Don’t trouble yourself to try and impose on me. I have not been in and out of this room all these days for nothing. Do you think I have not seen how the poor child has been fretting, and the change that came over you whenever Agnes went near you? I know all about it, Iassure you; you won’t deceive me.” “Frau Christine, what a wonderfully wise wo- man youare!” said the young doctor. “You sit there and tell me things which three days ago I did not somuch as guess at, and of which Fraulein Agnes is now as ignorantas I was. But, unfor- tunately, you are right. Nemesis has overtaken me. lam hopelessly, head over ears, in love.” Christine nodded. “I have known that ever so long. But whatistocomeof it? Ihave not worried myself much about the matter so far, because Dr. Berndt made so sure you were going to die, and that would have ended everything; but now it seems there is no likelihood of your popping off at present——” | “No likelihood at all,” interpolated the patient. “Well, then, 1 should like to ask what is to be- come of you and my young lady?” “What is to become of us? Why, a married couple, to be sure. What else should become of us?” Contrary to Max’s expectation, Frau Christine did not appear shocked or horrified at this answer. Nevertheless, she shook her head gravely: “There will never be any question of that. Have you forgotten that Fraulein Agnes is going into a convent?” Eomichooks.co