I Forbid the Banns! — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

ON LEADING A HORSE TO THE WATER. 67 discover if the people there were broader in their views than the inhabitants of the Australian cities—this itinerary had had a great charm for the niece, but the aunt, in briefly reviewing the situation for the benefit of Miss Travers, declared that it had been a great weariness to herself. ‘‘T look forward to settling down in England,” said Mrs. Hardy. ‘‘I made up my mind when I sat down on that awful ladder last evening that nothing would induce me to give way upon another occasion to my niece’s thirst for knowledge. She had heard of that Jacob's Ladder, and the name had fascinated her. She laughed when she asked me one day if it might not be possible that heaven was at the top of that. ladder—the same as the original ladder in the Bible. I told her, of course, not to be irreverent ; but she kept on referring to that ladder and saying that she had found out what it meant,”’ ‘How interesting!’ said Miss Travers. ‘‘ And what did it mean ?”’ ‘“T really could scarcely tell you,” replied Mrs. Hardy. “Tt was somehow connected with what she called the mystery of the sea. The mystery of the sea and the mystery of human life were the same, she said ; and if one wished to find out all about the one it would be necessary to give all one’s attention to the other.”’ ‘ How interesting!’ said Miss Travers once again. ‘¢ And so you both went up the ladder ?”’ “Not both,” said Mrs. Hardy. ‘‘She went on to find her heaven at the top. I remained about fifty steps from the bottom. I found that if I had to climb to heaven by means of steps I should have to content myself with earth. Steps are becoming more trying to me every year.” “But your niece went on to the top? ” “She did indeed—every step.” “And did she find her heaven ?”’ “ She found a man.” CONMNIELOOKS (C@)