The Price He Paid — page 205: what you’re looking at

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

196 A SICK-BED CONFESSION. how true ana deep was the poor girl’s grief. “ All you will have to give upis a foolish idea which would make us both miserable were you to cling to it. Agnes, you are mistaken in thinking my con- dition a hopeless one. I have, in fact, hardly been in danger at all; and this morning any doubt as to my recovery has altogether disappeared. It will be quite useless to go back on your word—to try and recall what you have said. You may refuse mea hundred times, it will make no difference. - In spite of all and everything, you will be my wife.” Agnes started up. “Never. You must not think of that. Ihave given myself toareligious life. I must return to the convent very shortly.” “Not if I know it,” answered the young doctor, stoutly. “The convent people have no voice in the matter. Happily, youare quite free as yet; you have taken no vows.” | “T have taken vows mentally, to myself. I have promised the abbess and my confessor, and this promise is as binding as an oath taken at the altar.” “T have no objection whatever to your taking an oath before the altar,” remarked Max, “but I must be present on the occasion, and swear myself in at the same time, asis usual at nuptial ceremonies. If the lady abbess and our friend the confessor at- tempt to interfere, they will have to deal with me. I shall soon settle with them. I’ll make such a stir among the whole spiritual community, that——” “Hor Heaven’s sake_do not be so violent!” im- plored the girl, with deep anxiety. “This excite- ment may be most hurtful, may be fatal to you. Do—do compose yourself, I entreat you!” “We two must come to a clear understanding first,” declared Dr. Brunnow, in his old dictatorial way. ‘Then he poured forth on Agnes a torrent of arguments, of reasons irrefutable, such as he had lately showered on his unfortunate colleague, prov- ing to her, clear as day, that she was his betrothed now, and that, come what might, she must one day be his wife, until the poor girl, quite bewildered and stupefied, began at last to think he was right, and the matter really stood as he put it. Agnes still Eomichboo <S (E(0)