His Grace — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

112 HIS GRACE. without the faintest apparent prospect of advantage to the persons concerned. My mother used to be fond of affirming that the designs of Providence are beyond our comprehension. Everything leads me to believe that she was right. We had a blank day, which was possibly the reason why we all three returned home out of spirits and out of temper. Other causes may have been at work; but I can’t say for certain, because of course I don’t know what passed between Hurstbourne and Nora after I lost sight of them. ‘The latter, when I rejoined her on the homeward path, had some harsh things to say about Lady Deverell, the justice of which I felt to be indis- putable, and consequently did not attempt to dispute ; but she cordially—almost too cordially—concurred in Hurstbourne’s outspoken admiration of Miss St. George, and I daresay he was more surprised than I was by the uncalled-for way in which she snubbed him when he said cheerfully : “Well, Miss Nora, we’ve wasted our time and our patience to-day, haven’t we? But never mind! We'll have better luck next Saturday. Of course you’ll come out on Saturday.” ‘“‘T think not,” she replied: “it’s hardly good enough. If one has a chance of being shown any sport, one can submit to sermons from Lady Deverell and to hours of improving conversation with—with other people; but this doesn’t seem to be a very sporting county.” I don’t think anybody would accuse Hurstbourne of being a bad-tempered man; but he is certainly rather short in the temper, and he is young! So instead of asking Nora point-blank what was the matter with her (which would have driven her into a corner), he raised Gomichboo “S (E(0)