I Forbid the Banns! — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

ON THE STUDY OF GEOGRAPHY. 229 There was a silence in the drawing room. Cyril South- cote even was breathless. He looked admiringly at Ber- tha, and then glanced at Julian. He could see that Julian did not admire this “scoring” on Bertha’s part. Cyril knew that men do not asa rule admire a display of clever- ness by their own wives. In the midst of the silence tea was brought in, and Ber- tha was excessively gracious in offering her visitors tea. The plain daughter wondered how she would look if she possessed lace like that which Mrs. Charlton was wearing. She rather thought that it would suit her “style.” Plain daughters are fond of referring to their “ style.” Marian Travers thought that perhaps her turn had come to converse with Bertha. Julian fancied that he detected about the corners of her mouth the little suggestion of malice which he had noticed there more than once before. “T told Lady Rushton of the romance associated with your meeting,” said Marian, glancing from Julian to Ber- tha. ‘ Was it not romantic, Lady Rushton?” “Extremely romantic,’ said Lady Rushton. ‘“ But I have known romantic marriages turn out all right in the end,’ she added. ‘ Yes—some.” “ And I can only hope that ours will come to be regarded by you as a valuable addition to your experience in this way, Lady Rushton,” said Julian. ‘“‘T hope so,” said her ladyship seriously, but with a dep- recating shake of her head, which was equivalent to an expression of doubt that rather outweighed the hope. Cyril perceived that this was distinctly rude on the part of Lady Rushton. He also perceived that Bertha had not failed to accept it as a piece of rudeness. ‘Oh, I think we may take it for granted that you will be happy, Mrs. Charlton,” said Marian. “And I will take it upon me to answer for your hus- band, Mrs. Charlton,” said Cyril. CORNIECLOOOKS (EC)