I Forbid the Banns! — page 354: what you’re looking at

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

344 “7 FORBID THE BANNS!” “With all my heart,” he replied. “I have found the most charming seat in the house—a nest among the palms on the first landing.” “You are too absurd,” said she. “Do you actually fancy that I ‘ “T do,” he said. “I know my own heart, and when a man knows his own heart he has gone a long way toward knowing the heart of the one who is nearest to him,” 3 “Nearest to him, did you say?” she asked in a low tone. “You did not fancy that nearest was the word that I said?” he murmured. ‘ And yet—well, I dare say you are discreet ; better assume that I said nearest, not ¥ ‘“ Hush,” she whispered with her lips and her fan. ‘“ Let us sit here where we can watch the crowd.” ‘What are they to us?”’ said he. “ Nothing whatever—more than wives and jfancées, and controllers of income tax, and the controllers of the con- trollers of the income tax—ministers of grace and ministers of annexation.” “Who are just the opposite, you would seem to suggest.” “By no means; only it is remarkable how one’s pro- fessional instincts are sometimes carried into one’s social life. The Minister of Annexation.” ‘Where is that person just now?” asked Julian. “Sir Ecroyd, do you mean?” asked Marian. ‘“ Why, where should he be unless by the side of the most beautiful womanin London? Mrs, Charlton is to be congratulated upon her conquest. He came into the room just now and crushed his way up to her at once, And everyone looks on him as a confirmed woman-hater. Of course she is only amusing herself with him.” “Where are they now?” asked Julian, EOMIGLYOKOlKS (eC)