The Price He Paid — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

AT THE BALL. 85 “Why should 1?” asked the baron, coldly. “Your aunt never came there. I had her portrait brought to the drawing-room, which is certainly its most fitting place. Well, what do you think of the state-apartments atthe castle? It is the first time you have seen them fully lighted up.” This sudden diversion proved how irksome to him had been the previous topic. Without more - ado, he took Gabrielle’s arm, led her away from her aunt’s portrait, and began a tour of inspection through the rooms, pointing out and explaining many objects of interest. The folding-doors were all thrown back, so that the eye could wander at will throughout the long and glittering vista. The young baroness Harder was not one to re- main unimpressed by such ascene. She perfectly reveled in the bright surroundings, as, with a heart brimming over with gladness and expectation, she tripped along by her guardian’s side. She had very quickly regained all her old ease of manner in her intercourse with him. That strange hour by the “Nixies’ Well” had long since been forgotten, together with the transient seriousness it had called forth. Like a dream, its influences had come upon her; swiftly and traceless as a dream they had vanished again from her mind. On that sunny eround nothing approaching a shadow could for any length of time hold its own. Gabrielle cer- tainly felt that during the last few days the baron had treated her with unwonted gentleness and in- dulgence. He had even determined on giving this ball, in order that, as he said, certain restless little feet might haveachance of dancing themselves weary. It was an unheard-of concession from him, who looked on all festive gatherings at the castle as ‘go many onerous duties imposed on him by eti- quette, so many drawbacks to his position; but the young lady was too accustomed to be spoiled by her parents and all about her, to be struck with any special surprise at the favor shown her. Raven was grave and silent as usual; but he lis- tened to her chatter with visible satisfaction, and his eyes were fixed, as though unconsciously, on EOmichboo cS (EO)