I Forbid the Banns! — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

ON A FINE DAY. 167 could not fancy the love of the spring day without the hand in which her own reposed. Like a knell to her happiness came the sudden sound of the church clock in the distance striking the hour. Julian quickly pulled out his watch. He found that the clock was only twenty minutes astray, which was marvelous for a church clock. It was, however, slow. The dogcart would be at the door in ten minutes to take them to the train. ‘“‘Ah,’’ said the girl when he told her what the hour was, ‘‘Chelsea knows no pleasure like this.”’ He looked at her with eyes overflowing with tenderness as she was about torise. He held her hand tightly in his own, keeping her in her place. Twice he opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. What was in his heart? Did she understand something of it, by the aid of that subtle soul communion existing between them? Why should her face flush suddenly? Why did her hand tremble? and, above all, why on earth should there be a sigh struggling in her throat? For purely spiritual lovers such expressions of emotion were remarkable. Alas! even the soul of a man and woman becomes part of the springtime. ‘They look upon the things of nature beneath their eyes, and criticise them from a superior height, forget- ful of the fact that they are but a part of the things around them. Thestrong life that beats in everything beneath their eyes pulsates within them quite as vehemently. There is no shutting out the influence of the spring. It throbs through all nature, and the soul of a man and a woman Is part of nature, and submissive to nature’s schemes to effect her own purpose. Her little sigh scarcely managed to struggle forth. He dropped her hand, and got upon his feet, saying ina low voice: EOMMIELYOOlKS (EC)