I Forbid the Banns! — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

CONCERNING PROPOSITIONS. 99 wondered if Miss Lancaster could suggest what was meant by the Seven Mazds with Seven Mops. That was a point which had, he knew, to be faced sooner or later. Now who were the Mazds? What were the JZops? “ Seven,” said Miss Lancaster thoughtfully. “Why should the number specified be exactly seven? Why not four, or six, or, for that matter, five or eight, unless the author meant to suggest something of importance? Is not the existing sys- tem of British parliaments septennial ?”’ she inquired. Mr. Crawford started to his feet and took a few steps hurriedly up the deck to conceal his emotion. He did not return to his seat for some moments ; when he did so at last he laid his hand upon hers. ‘Miss Lancaster,’ said he in a voice that was slightly tremulous, “I am middle-aged, a student, and a literary man.”’ Bertha looked at him. What could he mean, she won- dered, by formulating this progressive list of misfortunes. ‘T have also a daughter,” he said, as if by way of culmt- nating the catalogue. ‘* But I have been a widower for five years,” he added, brightening up; ‘‘and if you could see your way to join your fate with mine in the enterprise which I have at heart, I do not think you would ever regret it.”’ “ Mr. Crawford,” said the girl, ‘I am not so certain about the septennial parliaments being referred to. There are Seven Maids with Seven Mops, you must remember— that is, fourteen in all; that puts a new complexion on the matter.” “Tt does,” Mr. Crawford admitted aftera pause, “ But, regarding the other subject < “Then, if we find that our first idea was wrong,” said the girl, “ should we not learn to think twice over every matter of importance before deciding upon the exact course which should be pursued ?”’ Mr. Crawford was silent for some time. Then he said, L. of C. | e@rmmicoooks (2)