I Forbid the Banns! — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

ON THE SMILE AND THE FROWN. 249 “Thank Heaven that you are not astatesman, Sir Edwin,’’ said Lady Rushton as Bertha walked along by the side of Julian to where the wife of the under secretary was receiv- ing her guests. ‘‘Thank Heaven that you are not a states- man.”’ ‘So I do,”’ said Sir Edwin. ‘‘But why?’’ “Why?’’ criedthe matron. ‘‘You see ¢Aat’’—she jerked her sunshade in the direction of Bertha—‘‘and yet you ask me why?’’ ‘She seems actually pretty,’’ said Sir Edwin. He felt in his secret heart that he would with resignation submit to be regarded as a statesman, if his duties included receiving many women so charming as That Woman who was now walking by the side of Charlton. ‘‘Vera incessu patuit dea,’’ he murmured, observing her graceful gait. ‘“‘Pretty!’’ said Lady Rushton. ‘‘We do not criticise such creatures. Come away; we cannot talk of her before the children; the children shall not be contaminated if I can help it. Is it not monstrous to ask such people, simply because Charlton has influence in the county—Aad influence, I should rather say? Hecanhave none now. The county was pure—invariably pure, until he brought that contamina- tion here. And Lord Ashenthorpe invites them here! So much for the government! Sir Edwin, their days are numbered! Whatever we may be in England, we are pure. Our beloved sovereign has set us an example in this way—a noble example! England is not France, thank Heaven! And to think that that—wretch is wearing a costume that I know came from Mme. John Smith’s of Regent Street, and must have cost fifty guineas, while my daughters — my pure daughters, poor things, are compelled to put up with the plainest of Tussores! Oh, this world! this world! Heaven be praised that I had time to spread her shame among most of the families who are present! Qh, to bea statesman !’’ COMMICDOOKSEO