His Grace — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

HIS GRACE. bee the satisfaction of having refused me; but, as I declined to come up to the scratch, she ended by asking me point-blank whether I hadn’t something to say to her.” ‘‘ How charmingly ingenuous! And you replied ? ” “T replied that I didn’t see what there was to be said, except good-bye. Then I don’t exactly remember what took place, or how it was that she arrived at the point of calling me every bad name that she could lay her tongue to. I hooked it as soonas I could. The fact is, my dear Martyn,” continued Hurstbourne, with. the air of one who, by dint of long experience and observa- tion, has discovered a recondite truth, “ that an angry woman, is the deuce and all! It’s no use reasoning with her; it’s no use pointing out to her that she hasn’t the slightest excuse for being angry with you ; the only plan 1s to bolt. Hang it all! you’re not bound to pro- pose to a woman whom you would rather die than matry, merely in order that she may boast afterwards of having dismissed you with a flea in your ear.” That-proposition was indisputable, and I did not dis- pute it, although it occurred to me that Miss St. George might have more substantial grounds for indignation than the one mentioned. Frankly speaking, it was little enough that I cared about any disappointment which might have been inflicted upon Miss St. George, and little credit that I gave her for a genuine desire to participate in the self-denials of an exile. I wasrejoiced to think that that chapter was closed, and rejoiced also to notice that Hurstbourne’s spirits had been, to some extent, improved by the events of the evening. I am sure he did not suspect at the time, and I doubt whether he has ever suspected since, that he had inspired Lady Gomicboo cS (@(0)