I Forbid the Banns! — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

go ‘‘] FORBID THE BANNS!” Charlton had been watching her for more than an hour, and now he bent over her chair, saying : “JT wonder if you would be greatly surprised if I told you that I loved you.” ‘“ No,” she answered ; “I know you can no more help loving me than I can help loving you.”’ ‘And you cannot help it, Bertha ?”’ “T cannot help it. I have tried hard to avoid it with you as I have done with other men; I had no difficulty so far as they were concerned, but I have found it impossible with you.” ‘“T noticed a look of defiance on your face when you learned from your aunt that we were to be passengers on the same steamer. Did that mean that you were ready to defy Fate?”’ | “Yes, it meant that exactly. I know what was in my heart at that moment.”’ ‘And you know what is in it now?” “T am as certain of it as I am certain that I am living. The thirsty man, who has taken a draught of spring water, knows that he has drank it. His thirst is gone.” *“ You have thirsted after love, Bertha?” “T have thirsted after love—that love which means lov- ing as well as being loved—that love which is the essence of the human soul—that love which is the natural yearning of two souls to become one—one through all time and into the space beyond.” “My beloved, say that it 1s the yearning of an incom- plete soul for completion—the yearning of the river for the sea—the yearning—ah, Bertha, we cannot define it. If love could be defined it would cease to be love.”’ “Tt would,” she said. “It would sink to the level of science or theology.” “Tt is enough that we can feel it beating in out he rt. GOMmMiGooOO! (<(0)