I Forbid the Banns! — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

ON THE VORACITY OF THE SHARK. 79 —gave it an appearance of magnificence that was truly Oriental. | , Miss Lancaster sank into the chair and her shapely head rested onthe Cashmere shawl. The subtle drapery made a most effective background for her beautiful faee. “There!” cried Charlie. ‘ Come, you will confess that that is the very thing for Miss Lancaster,’ and he turned with an air of triumph to Charlton. ‘TI frankly admit it,’’ said Charlton. “It is not only more .comfortable, but infinitely more beautiful than this thing,’ and he moved his own a trifle closer to the other. “Ves,” he added. ‘“ You are fortunate in having placed at your disposal, Miss Lancaster, a seat that suggests the wealth of Ormuz and of Ind, as well as the comfort of Tottenham Court Road.” Then he quietly sat down in his own chair just vacated by Bertha, and inquired of her if she did not think that the story which was in her hand—it was ** The Woodlanders,” was the greatest work of fiction that recent years had pro- duced. She replied quickly that. she had read the book twice, and was now trying to get into a frame of mind to read it a third time. “That is sufficient to tell me what you think of it,” said Charlton. ‘I chanced to see you once or twice while I was having a cigar after breakfast, and I noticed that you did not opén your book. When I found just now that that book. was ‘ The Woodlanders,’ I felt that you were right to defer as long as possible the enjoyment of reading such a book. I wish I had it still before me.”’ Charlie Barham was standing in front of the chair which he had induced Miss Lancaster to occupy. He remained in that position while Mr. Charlton was expressing the wish that he had still the reading of Mr. Thomas Hardy’s best novel before him, and he remained while Miss Lan- (EOPMICLYOOLKS4 EC)