His Grace — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

HIS GRACE. 103 Nora was put to bed as soon as she reached the Castle, and Lady Charles fussed round her in the kindest possible way, and everything was done to make her comfortable. She was going to be all right ina day or two, only in the meantime her nervous system had been upset, and I suppose that was why she in- formed me abruptly, while I was sitting beside her and endeavoring to interest her in the latest intelligence conveyed to us by the evening papers, that she had determined to throw over Mr. Burgess. Immediately after making this announcement she burst into tears, which disturbed and alarmed me, because crying is not, as a general rule, one of her weaknesses. I could only say (for I was reluctant to agitate her more than I could help) that I was very glad to hear it and that I saw no reason for her distressing herself about a thoroughly sensible resolution! but, as she did not stop weeping, I inquired presently whether she had any cause for unhappiness beyond that which she had mentioned. ‘“ None whatever,” she answered. “ It makes me feel rather like a brute, and it leaves me as a dead weight upon your hands, that’s all. Still I can’t help it! I don’t love him, and I can’t possibly marry him! You yourself told me once, Phil, that it was shameful to marry a man whom one doesn’t love.” I assured her that I had no inclination at all to recede from an opinion which I have always held, and which I continue to hold to the present day. “ But,” I ventured to add, “it isn’t, I suppose, out of defer- ence to my views that you have so suddenly changed your own. Hurstbourne told me, the other day, that you had been speaking to him about your engagement, Gomichoo cS (ee) im