I Forbid the Banns! — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

196 “7 FORBID THE BANNS!” hand to Julian as though he were shaking some drops of water from his fingers. ‘‘How do you do?”’ said Julian. ‘‘Have you come from town? I hope you have had something to eat?’’ He had discharged all the duties of an English host in regard to avisitor. He felt that he had nothing to reproach himself with. ‘I’ve had a regular feed, my boy,’’ cried Eric, ‘‘Bertha tells me that I should have come in time for tiffen; so I should, but that I missed the train—went into the refresh- ment room with a decent fellow I met in the ’bus, and the train didn’t wait for us. We did all the waiting—for the next. No harm done, though I’ve played old Harry with your cold lamb and those pretty round things without much eating in them—what did you call them, Bertha?’’ ‘‘Croquettes,’’ said Bertha. ‘‘Never mind. It was so good-natured of Eric; wasn't it, Julian? He was afraid that the trunks might go astray, so he took charge of them himself. It appears that Miriam left Chelsea with all her belongings two days ago, but Eric wisely opened the tele- grams addressed to her, and—well, you have never seen this tea gown. ‘The velvet is smothered a ‘‘Yes,’’ said Juhan. He was wishing with all his heart that the fate which had befallen the velvet might overtake his guest. ‘“‘Weshould be greatly obliged to Mr. Vicars for his trouble.’’ ‘Don’t say aword about that, my boy,’’ cried Mr. Vicars. “If I wouldn’t take some trouble for Bertha, who would? Just tell me that. Why, her and me are the oldest of chums. Many atime I have set her on horseback, when her little legs could hardly touch the stirrups, though the buckle was in the farthest hole of the leather. And when I saw what name was in the telegram, ‘Eric,’ says I, ‘if you’re not the first to congratulate that young bride, you’ll deserve to be kicked.” Well, my lass, didn’t I do the thing properly?’’ m (CONNIE LIOOLKS (E(@)