I Forbid the Banns! — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

218 ‘7 FORBID THE BANNS !’ “That is scarcely the same thing,” said Julian. “Well, there are exceptions, no doubt,” said Cyril. “But as a general rule 4 “T detest cheap cynicism,” said Marian. ‘“ My dear Miss Lan—I beg your pardon, Mrs. Charlton, I offer you my congratulations, and trust that you will not refuse them this time.” “T will not refuse them, indeed,” said Bertha. ‘How curious it was that immediately after you came down from Ladder Hill at St. Helena I prophesied whom you had met, Mr. Charlton !’”’ “No better system of prophecy has yet been hit upon,” said Cyril. ‘After the event is the safest time for prophecy.” “ But in this case I had no idea that Mr. Charlton had 9? met anyone,” said Marian. ‘ None of ushad the least idea . that Miss Lancaster was aboard the steamer, Did I not prophesy accurately, Mr. Charlton?” ‘T own that I was astonished, Miss Travers. I will not say how much your prophecy contributed to the happiness which I enjoy.” “Do not make use of the singular pronoun,” said Cyril. ‘¢ Matrimony may properly be described as a condition of life in which there is no first person singular. You should not say ‘I,’ but ‘ we,’”’ ‘““T fancied that I sawthe germ of some flower of speech in your glance,” said Julian. ‘1! like the blossom.” “It is very sweet,” said Bertha. “And now,’ cried Marian, very prettily, “have you no prophecy to indulge in, so far as we—I think you said the pronoun should always be plural, Cyril—so far as we are concerned ?”’ “What! you and Cyril——?” exclaimed Julian. “Why not?” inquired Marian. “Why not, indeed?” laughed Julian. “And he was Gomichooks.co