I Forbid the Banns! — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

204 “7 FORBID THE BANNS!” by—good-by to you, sir’’—he turned to Julian—‘‘I bear you no malice. It shall never be said that Eric Vicars bore malice against the man of your choice, Bertha. Maybe the day will come when you will hurry to the side of your poor old Eric. I don’t want to be a prophet of misfortune, but you may come to me yet. ‘Those are the farewell words of Eric Vicars.’’ ‘“Good-by,’’ said Julian, about to lead the way to the hall — door with the politeness of the most hospitable host. But his visitor did not permit him to carry out his intention, The door chanced to be open, and Eric, after catching up his hat and stick, which lay on an oak table beside the porch, stalked out of the hall, leaving his host quite ten feet behind. Julian went on to the door and closed it. He knew that his visitor would not have gone so far down the avenue as to be unable to hear the sound of the door closing. ‘‘Poor Eric seems to have become very sensitive,’’ said Bertha, when Julian returned and met her in the center of the hall. ‘‘But it really was kind of him to take charge of my trunks down here.’’ ‘TI must say,’’ said Julian, ‘‘that for one who affects to know nothing of lace, you have been extremely happy in your choice—those bits on the sleeves are of the rarest design.’’ “This is the gown that I was longing for,’’ said Bertha. “Tt is all my own. Mme. John Smith of Regent Street wanted me to have the white velvet of the sleeves slashed with some colored material. She said it would be Floren- tine. I held out against any color whatever. Was I right?”’ ‘“There cannot be a doubt on the matter,’’ saidhe. ‘‘The white velvet is your white soul.’’ ‘“Smothered in lace,’’ laughed the girl. GOMIEDOOKS EO