I Forbid the Banns! — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

132 “T FORBID THE BANNS!” “ Then the docks are not at London?” “They are not exactly in the heart of London. I will ask you to let me have the address in Chelsea, so that I can come for you when you are ready to be my very own.”’ “ But you will come with us now?” “TI cannot, dearest; I am not a colonial overseer with alargeheart. But I will goand see you to-morrow between the hours of six and seven. I must hasten to my neglected home just now, and see that it is fit for the reception of a mistress.” He gave a little start and a gulp as he uttered the last word. A Mistress ! That was the word which escaped from him. He could not recall it. That is the worst about words. When they are spoken they displace a certain quantity of air, just as a pebble dropped into a still pond displaces a quantity of water. The circle of ripples broadens out from the center of the pool until it reaches the bank ; and the ripples of air, caused by the speaking of a word, broaden out until the effect of that word is felt outside the limits of our world. A Mistress ! (CONNIE NCO KS (E)