I Forbid the Banns! — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXVII. ON THE SONG OF THE NIGHTINGALE. ULIAN CHARLTON threw himself back and succeeded after a time in checking the career of the horse. He turned the animal, and walked him slowly back upon the road. ‘“*What Fates impose, that may but men abide,’’’ he remarked to Bertha. ‘‘We are the sport of circumstance. Never mind; it only means that we shall go back to town to-morrow instead of to-day.’’ ‘“There is no later train?’’ said Bertha. ‘‘The requirements of Brackenhurst are not many,’’ said he.: ‘‘No one is supposed to want to reach town later than 8.30. My only fear is for dinner.’’ ‘‘Oh, dinner,’’ said she, somewhat carelessly. ‘*‘A cup of tea 1s what I have set my heart on.’’ ‘With the accompaniment of achop?’’ said Julian. “‘I have heard that no woman wants anything more bewilder- ingly elaborate for her dinner. That is why female clerk- ships have such small pay attached to them. If women took to beefsteaks and beer they would obtain the same pay as men. The authorities don’t like wasting money upon tea and chops.”’ It was rather remarkable that within twenty seconds of the arrival of the shock caused by the missing of the train he was opening a discussion bearing upon the question of the remuneration of female clerks. Perhaps this may have occurred to Bertha, for she mused in silence for a few minutes and then laughed. 177 CORMEOOKS (E(0)