I Forbid the Banns! — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

234 “7 FORBID THE BANNS!” better give all your attention to making peace with Lady Rushton.” After a moment’s pause, broken only by the sound of Lady Rushton’s voice from her carriage, Marian put out her hand to Bertha. Cyril gave a sigh of relief. He hated a scene. ‘After all,’ said he when Marian was at the point of leaving, ‘“ marriage is like sin: it resolves itself into a ques- tion of geography.” “Cyril,” cried Marian, “ may I beg that you will recollect that I am present.” “T recollect it perfectly,” said he. ‘ My dear Charlton, yours is a most interesting experiment. I wonder how it willend. Anything new in marriage or poison has always interested me greatly. I have never had the courage to test any novelty for myself in either direction, but this fact does not prevent my being greatly interested in watching the effect of a novel poison or the realization of a new idea in that relationship which the Church calls marriage. What do youcall your system—the name Free-Love has a soupcon of vulgarity about it? A taking name is vital to the success of such a cult. I did not fancy such an idea as this could possibly be put into practice in this century and by people insociety. Jadmire your courage exceedingly. It deserves to succeed, but it won't. Good-by. I hear your wedding bells in the distance.” Whatever he may have heard in the distance he certainly heard the voice of Marian Travers close at hand. She had gone from the room making a gesture of impatience, and had again called to him from the hall. There was some shrillness in her voice. In another moment the hoofs of the very indifferent coach horses of the Rushton family were tearing up the gravel of the avenue. Bertha and Julian stood alone in the drawing room. CORNIELIOOLKS (E(0) 45)