His Grace — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

30 : HIS GRACE. only then, I say, that she roused herself from het abstraction, and suddenly laid her hand upon my arm. “ Phil,” said she, “ I don’t want you to call Mr. Bur- gess the old cab-horse any more; I don’t want you to say anything disagreeable about him, if you can help it. Because—don’t look at me, sesmaT uD 1250 am going to marry him.” I don’t remember what answer I made; but I suppose © I must have said that such a thing was PEERS, and added some strong expressions; for I remember how gently and patiently the poor girl exerted herself, as we walked on, to make me understand that she had taken a step from which she had no intention of receding. She did not pretend to be enamoured of Mr. Burgess —that would have been a little too ridiculous—but she assured me that he expected nothing of the sort, that the prospect of keeping house for him and looking after his children was not such a very disagreeable one to her, that he had been extremely kind, as had also Lady Deverell, who approved of the match, and that my mother’s consent had been willingly given. “But, gracious Heavens!” I exclaimed, “if it is necessary for you to marry somebody—which I suppose - is what you mean—aren’t there dozens of other men in England who would be only too glad to marry you? Besides, the old wretch has only just buried his wife. To my mind, his conduct is downright indecent ! ” ‘The dozens of men who are so eager to marry me haven’t found their way into Essex,” answered Nora, with a faint smile; “and, as for the wedding, there won’t be any indecent haste about it. Mr. Burgess wishes me to take my own time, and says he would rather our engagement was not formally announced yet. Eomichoo “S (E(0) m