I Forbid the Banns! — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

ON SOME FORMS OF IMPUDENCE. 317 between some young couples who were reposing there after the exertions of the dance. He looked around, but could perceive Julian Charlton nowhere. Then he took a stroll through the conservatories, but without success. Finally he reached the corridor, hav- ing made a fruitless round of the premises. Before he reached Berthaagain he became aware that a man was bending over her. At first he thought that the man was Charlton, but in an instant he saw that he was a stranger. “IT have taken a cruise to every point of the compass, Mrs. Charlton, but without getting a sight of your hus- band.”’ ‘‘T am so sorry that ‘you were put to so much trouble, Charlie,” said she. ‘“ But Sir Ecroyd Fairleigh has been good enough to offer me his brougham to go home by— ours will not be here for at least an hour and a half.” ‘““Maybe you are well enough to remain now,” said Charlie. ‘Oh, Iam well enough,” she said quickly ; ‘ but I must go—I must leave this place.” Sir Ecroyd, who had been bending over her when Charlie came up, offered her his arm; she took it and rose to her feet, giving Charlie her other hand with a smile—not the smile that he associated with her aboard the Carnarvon Castle, however. She went off by the side of the minister, whose immobile countenance failed to tell Charlie whether or not Bertha had confided the secret of her trouble to him. “Tt is like their impudence,” said Charlie. ‘* That big fellow, because he happens to be something or other in the government, coolly appropriates her while I am search- ing for the husband, and then walks off with her to his brougham. He will see her home, and maybe sit with her for an hour or two, assuring her that he dare not leave her alone—I know the tricks of these boys, whether they CONNIELOOKS (e)