I Forbid the Banns! — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

6 “7 FORBID THE BANNS!” People who had met him once or twice said they believed he could do anything he aspired to do in the world. If their opinion was correct, the result of his career was simply to show how modest had been his aspirations. People who had known him for a year said they believed he would yet make his mark in the world. He may have fancied they were right until he had entered upon his thirtieth year. Afterthis date, however, he was accustomed to smile when it was hinted to him now and again thata man of his cleverness should make a mark in the world. “My dear sir,’ he said upon one occasion, when he knew there were persons present who would be careful to give his phrases circulation, ‘‘there are only three men of whom it may safely be predicted that they will make their mark in the world—the man who cannot write, the miller, and the chimney sweep.” To say so much, however, was not to say distinctly that he did not mean to distinguish himself eventually. When he was thirty-two it was suggested that he should endeavor to make a name for himself. At this suggestion he also smiled ; but his smiles at this period were scarcely so bright as those of an earlier date. “My parents have saved me the trouble of making a name for myself : they have given me a very good name.”’ His reply was apt. His parents had not Hiramed or Habakkuked away his chances in life. The name of Cyril Southcote was so pleasing to pronounce that people pro- nounced it out of the pure pleasure of the thing. After pronouncing it some people felt as self-satisfied as if they had delivered an epigram or a quotation from Swinburne. This being so, his name was pretty frequently repeated in society. His father, Sir Montague Southcote, was the only one who did not seem to find pleasure in uttering his name, Sir Montague was a general officer, aK. C. B.,a K. C. M. G., (CONNICLOOOKS (E(0)