Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

A HOMILY ON MATRIMONY. 219 it’s been on my mind ever since we were abroad together, but, well as I know you, I’ve always lacked sufficient cour- age to put it to you. It’s this,’’ he continued, as Dick made no response. ‘‘You were in love with a certain young woman.’”’ “That, I take it, can scarcely be called a question,’’ re- turned Dick, slightly turning his head, which was resting against the back of hischair. ‘‘Callita statement, rather.”’ “Callit what you like—a wind-mill, if it pleases you. It’s true, all the same, isn’t it?’’ he replied, audaciously. ‘‘You may talk big, of course, and give vent to all manner of high-flown opinions about the drawbacks of matrimony, and heartily pity those who are bound to each other for life, etc., but I’ll bet, it was just by a ‘squeak,’ that you’re sitting in that chair now, struggling each night, with the dinner question and each morning with dyspepsia, instead of going quietly home and enjoying a decently cooked meal, ordered by one who has proper respect for both your palate and digestion. Don’t attempt to fool me, Dick, you were certainly in love with Miss Cameron.’’ As Arthur finished this harangue, Dick did not rise with an ironical smile on his lips and a pointed denial on his tongue as the former fully expected him to do. Instead, he calmly replied: ‘*T do not deny it.’’ ‘‘So you admit it? This is unexpected! Why on earth, then, didn’t you marry her?’’ demanded Arthur. ‘‘T would have been only too happy to do so—had she consented. ”’ ‘‘What!” exclaimed Arthur, skeptically, ‘‘she refused you? You can’t mean that?”’ ‘‘But I do mean precisely that.’’ Gomichookssco im