The Price He Paid — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

40 A PLAIN TALE. first time she had ever heard a speech at all genial from her brother-in-law’s lips, or seen in his eyes any expression other than that of icy reserve. He visibly took pleasure in Gabrielle’s high spirits, and the wise woman resolved to seize the propitious mo- ment, in order to clear up a point which lay . very near her heart. “Poor child, poor child!” she sighed, with well- simulated emotion. “Dancing on so merrily through life, and little dreaming of the serious, perhaps sorrowful, future in store for her! A well-born, portionless girl! It is a bitter lot, and doubly bit- ter for one who, like Gabrielle, has been brought up with great expectations. She will find this out soon enough !” The maneuver succeeded beyond all anticipation. Raven, whom in general nothing would move, seemed for once to bein a pliable mood, for he turned round and said, in a quick, decided manner: “What do-you mean by a ‘sorrowful future,’ Matilda? You know that I have neither children nor relatives of my own. Gabrielle will be my heir- ess, and therefore there can be no question of poverty for her.” A gleam of triumph shone in the baroness’ eyes, as she thus obtained the assurance she had long so ardently desired. “You have never declared your intentions,” she remarked, concealing her satisfaction with an effort: “and I, naturally, could not touch on sucha subject. Indeed, the whole matter was so foreign to my thoughts , “Has it really never occurred to you to speculate on the chances of my death, or on the will I might leave?” interrupted the baron, giving full play now to the sarcasm he had hitherto partially restrained. “My dear Arno, how can you imagine such a thing?” cried the lady, deeply wounded. He paid no heed to this little burst of indignation, but went on ga tm “1 trust that you have not spoken to Gabrielle on the subject”—he little knew that it had been almost a daily topic—“I donot wish that she should be Eomicbooks (E(0)