I Forbid the Banns! — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

78 “7 FORBID THE BANNS!” pleasure in placing at her disposal, she would, he was confident, never return to Charlton's. It was in vain that the girl protested that the chair which she was occupying was extremely comfortable; he would not be denied—she must at least try his. Charlton watched the transaction from a distance. He saw the vexed look come to the girl’s face in spite of her determination not to hurt the feelings of a young gentle- man whose sensitiveness might still have survived a four years’ service aboard a man of war. Charlton strolled across the deck to the scene of the struggle between the girl’s courtesy and the boy’s kindness. His approach was resented by a murderous glare on the part of the mid- shipman. “ Mr. Charlton,” said Bertha, “ I am being overwhelmed with kindness. Will you help me to assure Mr. Barham ” —he had told her his name—“‘ that the chair I am sitting in is the most comfortable on the deck ?” “Certainly,” said Charlton. ‘ But is it the most com- fortable ?”’ ‘“T want Miss Lancaster to try mine,” cried the boy. “I don't insist on her appropriating it if it is less comfortable than yours,” “That’s very considerate of you,” said Charlton. “ Pray give the chair a chance, Miss Lancaster. From a casual glance at it I am bound to say that I think it looks much more comfortable than the one you are in.”’ ‘Oh, I do not mind trying it,” said the girl, her look of vexation vanishing. She sprang to her feet and Charlie kindly placed his chair in the most enticing position beside the other, and held it as if it had been a horse that the girl was about to mount. It was undoubtedly a comfortable chair; and the Cashmere shawl which Charlie had fastened on the back —one that he was bringing home as a present to his sister Gomichboo S (26)