The Man in Possession — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 109 was decided upon, the parts were arranged, and the dresses chosen. We only needed the important detail of rehearsals.” | Lady Jocelynlaughed. ‘‘ How satirical you are! The last point is just the difficulty. You were ap- pointed stage manager. Why don’t you look after your company? Nota single rehearsal yet and the time 1s drawing near.” ‘‘ They all assured me three rehearsals would be sufficient, as it was so much better to study their parts privately and thoroughly,” answered Tom. Lady Jocelyn looked doubtfully. ‘‘ Ah,” she said, ‘*T know what ‘haf means. However, I must trust to you and Miss O’Brien to pull us through.” ‘‘QOh, please do not count upon me,” said Kate quickly. ‘‘I assure you I would rather not takea part ; and if the piece has been arranged and rehearsed, a new actor in it would only upset the others.” ‘‘Miss O’Brien and I are going to perform a Duo- logue,” said Tom Rivers coolly—‘‘ a lever du rideau. We are both modest people, and leave the four-act comedy to more important, or—ambitious actors,” ‘‘ But, indeed,” interposed Kate, somewhat indig- nant at this cool usurpation of her consent, ‘‘ I never agreed to anything of the sort.” | ‘‘That makes no difference, you see,” said the young man; ‘‘ because, in the first place, you are too good-natured to refuse to help Lady Jocelyn in her efforts to entertain her country neighbours ; in the second, you know the piece and can act it ad- mirably ; and inthe next . . . well, I beg it as a par- ticular favour, for I have grave doubts of ever carrying COMicloe <Sr ‘