The Price He Paid — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

CARRYING OUT ORDERS. 29 tomed to it when you know him better, and grow fond of him.” “Never!” cried Gabrielle, vehemently. “How can you expect me ever to grow fond of Uncle Arno, mamma? I have never heard anything but ill of him. You always used to say he was a horrible tyrant; papa never spoke of him except as a par- venue or adventurer, and yet neither of you ven- tured to be anything but friendly to him, be- cause——” “Hush, child!” interrupted her mother, looking round in alarm to see that noone had overheard the treasonable words. “Have you forgotten that we are quite dependent on your uncle’s goodness? He isimplacable when he thinks himself insulted. You must never attempt to contradict him.” “Why did you all show him so much deference if he was only an adventurer?” persisted Gabrielle, obstinately. “Why did grandpapa let him marry his daughter? Why has he always been con- sidered the leading personage of the family? I can’t understand it.” “Nor I either!” exclaimed the baroness, with a sigh. “The power that man exercises has always been inexplicable to me, as was your grandfather’s predilection for him. He, with his plebeian name and his position, at that time a very subordinate one, ought naturally to have looked upon his admit- tance into our family as an immense privilege, as an unmerited piece of good fortune, instead of which he took it exactly asifit had been his due. No sooner had he established a footing in our house > than he began to govern every one in it, from my sister down to the servants, who stood more in awe of him than of theirown master. Hehad my father so completely under his control that nothing was done without his advice or assistance, and all the others he simply put down, extinguished. How he did it I cannot say—enough that it was so; and not - only in our family circle, in society, and the political world he rapidly gained surprising dominion. No one ventured to oppose or thwart him.” “Well, he will not extinguish me,” cried the girl, Eomichboo <S (E()