I Forbid the Banns! — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

ON SHADOWS. 45 delightful old gentleman he is. Anything more cruel than Mr. Southcote’s treatment of so inoffensive a person I cannot imagine. I don’t know how he had the heart to do it. It was as bad as taking advantage of a child. I have seen some guileless administrators, but none that could approach Sir Ebenezer.”’ “Did he write his name in your birthday book, Miss Travers, or give you a cabinet portrait of himself in the character of Wordsworth’s Father William?” “T will not listen to your scoffing, Mr. Charlton. Sir Ebenezer is my ideal of a graceful old gentleman. He is a most graceful administrator. He plays the zither very prettily.” “Then I gather that we need not be apprehensive of a revolutionary outbreak at St. Helena just yet?” “T believe that the people worship him. His speech at the opening of a bazaar at. James’ Town is being published in pamphlet form. It is expected to havea great influence upon the course of modern thought. He assured us that it was entirely non-political. There was not a word in it that any foreign power could take exception to. He colors photographs very nicely, and his collection of ferns is one of the largest in the island.” “His is indeed a notable career. Has he no vices to give him ar interest in life?” “ He plays bézique.”’ “ That is the little leaven. Sir Ebenezer is human, after all.’’ “ And you, Mr. Charlton,” resumed Miss Travers ; ‘did you carry out your ideas of a pilgrimage?”’ ‘‘T went up the ladder, Miss Travers.”’ ‘“ And you stood at the summit, where that scene about which you were telling me was enacted—how many years ago?” “ Thirty-one years ago. Yes, I stood there.” EONMICLOOlKS, EC)