I Forbid the Banns! — page 216: what you’re looking at

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

206 “7 FORBID THE BANNS !” She tried to destroy by reasonable arguments the results of her instinct. She was scarcely successful. Women seldom are, when they make the same attempt. In the library, whither Julian Charlton had gone to look out a legal document, he was standing at a window watch- ing the operations of the lawn-mower and listening to its ‘clatter. His hands were clenched and his eyes were gleam- ing. ‘“‘If he comes across this threshold again I shall kill him like a dog,’’ whispered Mr. Charlton, shaking a fist in the face of an ancestor of his who occupied a prominent place ina broad gilt frame. | Then he began pacing the room, after the manner of one of the animals which it is thought prudent to keep within a strong cage in any zo6logical collection. After a time he gave an exclamation of contempt, and flung himself into a chair. ‘“Fool!’’ he said in the same whisper to the same unmoved ancestor. ‘‘Fool! Jealous—jealous of that clown. No, no; not jealous—not jealous—and yet—why did that far- away look come to her eyes when he introduced those damned reminiscences which she shares with him? Can I forget the way they met when the steamer got into dock? I saw it in his face. If I had not promised her then to give way to her, what would have happened? God knows.’’ He leapt to his feet. ‘‘My God! how I love her—love her—love her!’’ he cried with clasped hands. He had approached a corresponding point to that reached by another man who, when racked with mad jealousy, cried out: ‘“Perdition catch my soul, but I do love thee!’’ Some minutes had passed before he repeated his exclama- tion of contempt. ‘Jealous? Not I—not I,’’ hesaid, withalaugh. ‘‘Jeal- COMMGENOOL<Sa6O m