I Forbid the Banns! — page 368: what you’re looking at

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

358 “7 FORBID THE BANNS!” these cases are not many)—he asks her to marry him,” said Mr. Hardy. ‘“ The kitchen has usually got a good deal to say in the way of influencing a man in this direc- tion. The woman has got to know what he likes to eat, and he will do anything—he will even marry her—sooner than be placed at the mercy of a stranger, who may insist on giving him underdone mutton, which he knows will make him see through the watches of the night such visions as would, if transferred to paper, serve as the best illustrations that could be devised for a guidebook to the Infernal Regions. Butso far as you and Bertha are concerned—— “T see that in looking to you for practical advice I was a fool,’ said Julian. ‘* You talk in that strain, while you see that Iam at the point of madness. For God's sake tell me what I am to do to find her and to bring her back.”’ 7 do not know where she is, Mr. Charlton, sol cannot suggest to you in what direction you should look for her. As for bringing her back—well, I should advise you to wait.”’ “Wait—for what ?”’ cried Charlton. “Until she comes back of her own accord. I believe she will do it, because I believe that she loves you, but more because you are the father of a possible child of hers.”’ | “A possible child, Mr. Hardy?” said Julian, bewildered. ‘T said possible. If there is more than a possibility in the matter, you may depend upon it that she will return to you. You said that youare anxious that she should be married to you when she returns?” “Tf I can only persuade her.”’ “Your powers of persuasion may be great, but they are as nothing compared with the powers possessed by /7,” remarked Mr. Hardy. ‘IT will command her to return and to marry you.” Julian Charlton dropped into a chair. CoMmelnool<s (€()