I Forbid the Banns! — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

38 “7 FORBID THE BANNS!” There was perhaps this inquiry in the expression of his face, for she turned to him quickly, saying : “ Mr. Charlton, as it is decreed by—by my aunt, that we are to be companions for some time, I must confess that I led you astray in what I said about my father. It is quite true that he was an Australian convict; he was sentenced to twenty years’ transportation for a forgery of which he was innocent. Six months after he arrived at the convict station they found the man who was really guilty and they gave my father a free pardon for the crime he had not committed, and a thousand pounds to compensate him. I assure you I have found that phrase, ‘my father was a convict,’ extremely useful in weeding out all false friends——especially in Australia.” “And you hoped to weed me out as well?” ‘‘T have asked you' to pardon me.”’ “IT can do so with aclear conscience, not having been weeded out.” “ Now we can plant our feet firmly on the ground,” said she. “ We are on a low level, not on the heights.’’ CORNIELIOOKS