I Forbid the Banns! — page 250: what you’re looking at

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

240 "7 FORBID THE BANNS!” His freedom in this way placed Julian at his ease, though he feared that it might not have the same effect upon Mr. Hardy himself. As for Mrs. Hardy, she was almost as indiscriminate in her diet, though she took good care to acquaint her niece with the elementary properties of every dish. She knew the flesh-formers from the fat-formers, and partook of both, Julian received his visitors with some misgivings at first ; for he thought it was very likely that he would be required to enter into some explanation to Bertha’s relation regard- ing her presence at his house—a matter which required to be very delicately touched upon, and one which was not susceptible of explanation except to persons who had suc- ceeded in freeing their minds from a prejudice that was almost universal. Now, as he questioned very muchif Mr. and Mrs. Hardy were accustomed to approach the consideration of the mar- riage question with wholly unbiased minds, he felt that he might have more or less difficulty in satisfying them that. the domestic system which had been adopted at the Court was founded on the truest principles. When, however, he found them both greatly interested in their lunch, and referring, when they had time, to the varied charms of a country life and the excellent quality of the timber of the park, he came to the conclusion that their visit was a con- gratulatory one, and not one of inquiry. They were clearly satisfied, he felt, at the step which their niece had taken. He found out, however, when he had given Mr. Hardy a » large cigar, and had led him to the billiard room after lunch, that Bertha’s aunt’s husband was not disposed to pass over the matter of Julian’s relations with Bertha in silence. In fact it became clear to him that Mr. Hardy, at any rate, had paid his visit with other than congratulatory intentions. The door of the billiard room was scarcely shut when he turned to his host. oy CONMNIELIOOKS (E(0)