The Price He Paid — page 263: what you’re looking at

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

254 MAX INTERVIEWS COUNCILOR MOSER. “You will get used to me in time,” said the young surgeon, consolingly. “I may come again to-mor- row, may I not, to see my betrothed?” The old gentlman made no reply, fearing to pro- long the interview. His one object was to rid the house of this tormenting nuisance. To-morrow he would shut himself in, and see his doors well bolted. Max himself seemed to understand that he had gone far enough for one day, for he now moved to take his departure, turning to fire a parting shot as he reached the door. “Councilor Moser!” “Well, what more do you want?” asked the old gentleman, despairingly “When you talk over this business with Agnes, be sure and avoid all undue excitement. You know the danger of it. Six drops of the medicine ina glass of water three times a day, and, above all things, quiet and composure. I should be miserable if any accident were to happen to so near and dear a relation.” | Then he really went. The councilor sank back in his arm-chair, u tterly spent. | Dr. Brunnow had not left the house so promptly as its master supposed. He was at this moment standing outside in the anteroom with his arm round Agnes’ waist, quite as a thing of course, and as though he had received official recognition as her future husband. The girl was anxiously question- | ing him, wishing to hear exactly what course the interview had taken, and what answer her father had made. “Well, he says ‘no,’ so far,” Max had to confess; “but set your mind perfectly at rest—he will say ‘yes’ before he has done. I did not expect the for- tress would capitulate all at once. It must be in- vested, besieged in due form. On the whole, Iam satisfied with the result of this attack. Breaches have been made in the fortifications, and to-morrow I shall advance my posts.” “Ah, Max,” whispered Agnes, with her eyes full of tears, “what troubles we have before us! My Eomichooks: co