The Price He Paid — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

90 AT THE BALL. up to the portico of the Government-house, and the rooms gradually began to fill. So numerous had been the invitations issued, that the spacious apart- ments were hardly large enough to contain the bril- liant assembly which soon thronged them. The occasion being an official one, it was a matter of course that the invitations should be accepted, and for this reason the burgomaster andthe other gentlemen of the corporation had put in an appear- ance notwithstanding the conflict pending between them and the governor, a conflict which daily grew to greater proportions, and increased in intensity. Baron von Raven seemed to-day altogether to ignore the existing dissensions. He received these guests as he received all the others, with finished . politeness; but still with that cool reserve of man- ner which was peculiar to him, and which ever drew about him a sort of invisible barrier. Baroness Harder at his side did the honors of the house, noting with much satisfaction that she and her daughter were pre-eminently the objects of general interest. The two ladies had hitherto been but little seen in the world of R+—, where the. autumn gayeties were only just beginning. This was their first formal introduction to the society of the city which was henceforth to be their home. Strangers still to the majority of those present, their close relationship to the governor assigned to them at once the most prominent place, and it was but natural that they should form a center of attrac- tion round which all converged. While the elder lady received those attentions and marks of deference which fall by right to the lady of the house, her daughter’s grace and beauty were achieving triumph upon triumph. The young baroness was constantly surrounded, courted, and admired; the younger men, in particular, fairly be- sieging her with entreaties for the promise of a dance during the evening. Now and then Raven would cast a glance over at the groups ever forming and reforming round his charming ward; but the smile on his lips was rather forced. He saw with what pleasure, and with Eomichbooks.com