Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

“IF HE WERE TO DISAPPOINT MY HOPES!” 19 ‘‘Do you know whether he is a Catholic?’’ ‘Really, [ haven’t the least idea in the world,’’ re- sponded Florence, with a laugh. ‘‘We haven’t had time to discuss religion yet. Why, shouldn’t you favor him if he weren’t?”’ “I should hate to see you married to a Protestant,’’ ut- tered Rose, bending lower over her work. Florence flushed a little, angrily. *‘How very bigoted you are!’’ she exclaimed, with some annoyance. ‘‘No one pays any attention to those matters nowadays, Rose. To tell the truth, I don’t believe Arthur ever thinks of church.”’ | ‘‘T sincerely hope he isn’t a member of any, if he’s nota Romanist, for in that case you might bring your influence to bear afterward.”’ | ‘‘Yes, perhaps I could,’’ assented Florence, rather doubt- fully, ‘‘but just at present it wouldn’t be becoming in me to interfere with his opinions in that respect.”’ ‘‘On the other hand, though,’’ remarked Rose, pensively, ‘‘he may try to turn you afterward if he’s a Protestant. I wish you knew what religion, if any, he does profess. I’ve a horror of mixed marriages. ’’ ‘Oh, bother!’’ uttered Florence, with a gesture which showed plainly the conversation was distasteful to her; ‘‘don’t let’s get on this subject, Rose; we’ll argue all the afternoon. Who said I was going to marry him? You’re the dearest, sweetest little womanin creation, but I do wish you weren’t so lamentably old-fashioned. Dolly said once you ought to have lived a thousand years ago—that you put her in mind of a saint, in an old painting.’’ ‘“That’s where Dolly and I differ,’’ remarked Rose. ‘‘She EOmMmIichbooks (E(0) im