I Forbid the Banns! — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

126 “7 FORBID THE BANNS!” pause during which he kept his eyes fixed upon her face, trying to see upon her features the evidence of a struggle going on in her heart. Her features gave no sign of any struggle. Her heart was steadfast to her resolution. “ You are a good man, and you were meant to stand by my side in carrying out this great work upon which I have set my heart.” “T cannot do it,” said he. ‘ That is my last word.”’ They still remained side by side while the steamer was being hauled into her berth. “Look there!” cried Mrs. Hardy, hurrying to where they were standing. ‘“ Look there!” and she pointed to the breastwork of the dock, wherea tall, middle-aged gentleman with a solemn cast of countenance was standing with a much younger man, of a much more agreeable type, by his side. “Why,” cried the girl, “it’s Uncle Matthew and Eric Vic- ars. Now how on earth did Eric Vicars reach England ? He was the last person whom we saw at Sydney.” Charlton saw a roseate tinge come over her face the moment her aunt had called her attention to the two per- sons who were now hastening—the younger man witha good deal more eagerness than the elder—to the gangway that was being swung out to the steamer. Bertha seemed to have forgotten that Charlton was by her side. She was watching the approach of the foremost of the men who had boarded the ship, and there was a certain amount of eagerness in her eyes. This man, to whom she was giving all her attention, almost ran to her at last with both his hands stretched out to her. Charlton saw that he was handsome, with an expression of frankness on his face that was almost cer- tain to produce a good impression upon a stranger. Curiously enough it did not produce a good impression upon Charlton. (CORNICE IOOLKS (E(0)