I Forbid the Banns! — page 362: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XLVIII. ON THE BEGINNING OF A QUEST. E went to the room that she had occupied. The maids had not invaded it. The impression that that white body had made in the bed was still visible. ‘The pillow bore the impression of her fairhead. He put his face down to it. The instant he did so he shuddered. There was a cold dampness on the pillow that caused him to feel as if he had touched the face of one who was just dead. He knew that the pillow had been wet with hertears. He looked around the room to find, if it were possible, some clew to her flight. In what direction had she gone? She had ordered the hansom to drive to Waterloo Terminus, Had she taken the train at Waterloo? If so, what station had her ticket been for? At whose suggestion did she go to that station, whatever it was? No letter, no paper, no clew did he find. He went downstairs to his solitary lunch, glancing cas- ually at the newspaper as the dishes were being brought in. He flattered himself that none of the servants could notice any change in his demeanor. If the servants fancied that their mistress had fled from the house no earthly power could avert the scandal that would follow. It was his hope to find Bertha, to throw himself at her feet, and to persuade her to return with him. After his walk to Hampstead he had, he remembered, made up his mind that if she refused to go through the ceremony of marriage with him he would leave her. She had taken the first step, however, and had left him alone. When he had risen from the table all the burden of his 352 : (E(0) m => (CORMIEIOOKS