I Forbid the Banns! — page 395: what you’re looking at

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

ON THE ADVANTAGES OF A CLEW. 385 He was somewhat surprised to find a second hansom waiting outside the door of his house as he drove up. ‘A lady is waiting to see you, in the drawing room, sir,” said the footman. A curious thought seized upon him. What if it should be Bertha who had returned for some purpose, having disguised herself so as to deceive the servants! He had frequently read in works of fiction of the extraor- dinary possibilities of disguise possessed by a woman's veil. In the absence of a veil colored spectacles have been known to deceive—in fiction—even a husband and children for years. He went up to the drawing room, and was greeted by Mrs. Hardy. ‘Do you bring me news of her?” he cried. ‘Say that you have found her for me.”’ ‘Calm yourself,” said the lady. “I bring you news of her—not directly. She has gone back to Australia.” He fell into a chair, and stared blankly out of the nearest window. “ Back to Australia,’ he muttered. “ Back to Australia, indeed,” said Mrs. Hardy. ‘* Fool—fool—fool ! Not to have thought of that at the first,’ said he. ‘‘ But sheis gone. It only remains for me to follow her—to follow her tothe uttermost ends of the earth. How have you heard this, Mrs. Hardy ?”’ he asked, turning to that lady. ‘Eric Vicars it was who suggested it,”’ she replied. “He wrote to the two steamship companies that take passengers to Australia to ask if any berths had been taken for Miss Lancaster or Mrs. Charlton—you see we did not know whether she would still keep your name or——-’’ “Ves, yes, of course ; and he gota reply?” ‘“ From one company saying that no berths had been taken under either name. From the second he received this.” COMMICLYOOl KS. EO)