I Forbid the Banns! — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

ON THE ART OF SINGING. 149 “My word, Bertha,” interposed Vicars, “you will find yourself longing for the scream of a cockatoo, for the yell of the lory. Give mea real bird in the bush.” ‘TI prefer the one in the hand,” said Bertha. “There's not an English bird that isn’t a poor sort of cheeper compared with ours. Did you ever hear a real sulphur cockatoo in its own woods, mister ?”’ “Not exactly,’ said Charlton; “but I have heard a bushman sing.”’ Bertha burst into a ringing laugh. Mr. Vicars did not—for a few moments. ‘Then he made up in the loudness of his laughter for the time he had remained silent. “Vou had me there, mister, I allow. Well, I dare say I am a bit loud, and maybe harsh too, but what does that matter if your heart’s in the right place? ‘There's no one here—or elsewhere, for that matter—that won't allow that my heart’s in the right place. Eh, Bertha?” ‘“ Poor old Eric!” said Bertha. ‘‘ Everyone who knows you will allow that, I’m certain, even though you do threaten to bring the roof down when you sing.” ‘What do you say to that ?”’ cried Eric proudly, with a wave of his arm in the direction of Julian. “T have never heard,” said Julian quietly, “ that vocal incapacity was an evidence of cardiac disorder. But I assure you [I had no intention of criticising your— singing.” | “No? Then I accept your apology in the spirit it is offered in,” cried Eric, flashing out his hand once again for Julian to grasp. | , “My dear sir, you are under some strange misapprehen- sion,” said the latter. ‘‘There’s no question of apology under discussion, though I am always pleased to shake hands with anyone whose heart is in the right place.” He merely touched the man’s hand with his fingers, so Gomichooks (C6)