I Forbid the Banns! — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

146 ‘7 FORBID THE BANNS!” The voices went on while he waited impatiently out- side the door. Clearly the attendance of the servants at the bureau of the carnisolists left a good deal to be desired. He knocked a second time. The voices went on inside, and the bass was more demonstrative than ever. : He knocked a third time with a force that threatened the panel of the door. A face appeared at a window to the left, the head cran- ing round as far as possible. After another interval, the door was opened by a rather battered female servant. ‘Did you knock more than once ?”’ she inquired affably when Julian reached the door mat. ‘I knocked three times,” he replied, hardly so affably. ‘‘T thort sow,” said the girl ; “‘I didn’t ’ear yow for the noise,’ and she made a motion with her elbow toward a door to the right ; beyond that door the startling duet was being sung. The servant knocked at the door asa matter of form, and almost at the same instant turned the handle. The duet came to an abrupt close, as he entered the room and found himself face to face with Bertha, who had just risen from the piano, and Eric Vicars, who was stand- ing by her side. Her face lightened up as she gave her hand to her lover without a word. Mr. Vicars laughed loudly, wiping his moist forehead with the cuff of his coat. Then his hand went out witha flash to Julian, and remained extended until—the interval was considerable—Julian discovered it was there. ‘We were having one of the old songs together,” said Vicars in his hearty style. “It is one of the real bush songs. You heard the Coo-ee chorus, I expect. We do the Coo-ee pretty well together, I think. It’s a real (CONNIE NOOLKS eC)