I Forbid the Banns! — page 359: what you’re looking at

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

ON THE MOMENT AFTER THE PLUNGE. 349 acting wisely to tell Mr. Charlton that you mean to thank his wife, whose influence over Sir Ecroyd is so marked. You might also add what I have said about our engage- ment.”’ “It will require tact,” said Cyril; “but I flatter myself that I am not only equal to the task of administering the government of the Calipash Archipelago, but also to the task of making the needful explanation of gratitude to ~ Charlton.” He went off with a light heart in search of Charlton ; but his capacity was not equal to the task of approaching him ; for when Charlton had entertained, so far as was in his power to entertain, and so far as it was in her power to receive entertainment, the wife of Lord Ashenthorpe’s chief, he put on his hat and his overcoat and took a walk as faras Hampstead. As Hampstead is some miles from Grosvenor Gardens, it was almost six o’clock in the morn- -ing before he got to his own house. He had been walking hard for five hours, but he had not succeeded in getting rid of that feeling of self-abasement which had possessed him the moment he had said those words, “ She is not my wife,” to Marian Travers. It was on the heights of Hampstead that the truth came to him. He knew how much he loved Bertha. He knew that he had behaved basely to her—that he had made her life wretched. False to him! Was hea fool that, believ- ing she could be false to him, he should leave her alone and walk northward miles away from her? He knew now that his jealousy was madness. And yet this madness had had such an effect upon him that he had said those words —those false words, toa girl whom he almost despised— “¢ She is not my wife.” He would go to Bertha in the morning and confess all, and ask her forgiveness, and then What then ? (CORNICLOOKS