Sealed Lips — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

66 SHALED LIPS. “Do you think that I look like aman who should marry?” said he, feigning to laugh; “Ito marry a young girl with such beauty and such a future, and whose father I might be? You have never looked at her, then?” “Then take a wife not as young and less beauti- ful. Butmarry. The more I observe you the more I see that you have lived alone too long. Solitude is a burden that crushes one soon; you are bending already.” “Yes, my task is heavy, but a wife could aid me but little. What Ineedis aless cumbersome sup- port, without nerves, migraine, or rustling petti- coats, a sort of confidant; sharing my secrets which are not numerous, replying to my letters which are more so, recopying my semiquavers, above all to wind up the clock whenit runs down. Say now, you who wisha sifuation, what do you say to this one?” A deep flush extended over O’Farrell’s face, growing deeper and deeper. “You forgot toname the salary,” said he, with a forced laugh. | “T forgot that I was speaking to a descendant of the Stuarts, that is what I forgot. Truly we cannot open our mouths without hurting each other’s feel- ings. Good gracious! what has happened between us since your return ?” There had come between them what separates the closest of friends—a woman