I Forbid the Banns! — page 240: what you’re looking at

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

23° “7 FORBID THE BANNS!” “Thank you; you may,” said Julian. ‘ How odd it was, Lady Rushton,’”’ he continued ; ‘‘Southcote and lI were talking one afternoon on the phenomenon of love.” Lady Rushton straightened herself in her seat. She did not like the sound of the phrase. She was not sure that it might not have some improper import, which would be quite unfit fora daughter to hear. “Yes, and what was most singular in the matter was that Southcote declared that there was no such thing as love unless one fell into it, and I held that it was largely due to sympathetic associa- tion. And yet, before three days had passed, I had found out that I was quite astray in my theory, and before two months had passed he had proved that he accepted my principles.” “ How delicious!” cried the plain daughter. “I am nuts on romance,” she added, with a smile of extraordinary breadth and color. She felt that in saying “ nuts ’’she had reached the farthest limits of human fastness. “‘T don’t see any reason for your exclamation, Euphemia,” said Lady Rushton. “I think that mutual esteem and respect, both of which constitute the true foundation for hoping that a marriage will result in happiness, can only be acquired through time. ‘There is aproverb about marrying in haste.” Cyril perceived that Lady Rushton was clumsily attempt- ing to put into practice a policy of reprisal. She was determined to make Bertha suffer for having not only declined to be patronized, but for having herself assumed the role of patron. “T hope that our repentance may not come at leisure,” said Bertha gently. ““T was glad to see you at church,” said Lady Rushton— the word “‘ repentance” suggested the topic. “It was the first time I was:in a church in England,” said Bertha. COMMIElOOOKS (€(0)