CHAPTER IV.
THE BRIDAL PAIR.
Joy and exultation reigned in the house of the rich manufacturer
Orguelin. The proud daughter had consented to become the wife of
Count Rhedern; she had at last accepted him, and the happy father,
delighted at the prospect of soon becoming father-in-law to a count,
busied himself with the preparations for the approaching wedding
festivities, which were destined to excite the admiration and
astonishment of the entire city by their magnificence and prodigal
splendor. At this festival the future Countess Rhedern was to appear
for the last time in the circle of her old friends, and then to take
leave of them forever; for as a matter of course the Countess
Rhedern would have to form new friendships and seek other society
than that to which she had been accustomed as Mademoiselle Orguelin.
But M. Orguelin desired to exhibit to his associates, the
manufacturers and merchants, this splendid nobleman who had now
become his son; he wished to excite the envy and admiration of his
friends by the princely magnificence of his house.
But all this was far from being agreeable to Count Rhedern, who had
other plans. His creditors and his poverty compelled him to marry
this rich merchant's daughter, but he had no desire or intention of
entering into any association or connection with the friends and
relations of his wife; and even if it should be necessary to
recognize his rich father-in-law, it did not follow that he would
appear at his fetes to add lustre to the entertainment and be shown
off as a highly ornamented acquisition.
Pages:
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430