The Man in Possession — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 12! CHAPTER XIII. A SUCCESS. THE great ball-room at Croft had been turned into a temporary theatre. It was filled now from end to end with a crowd of fashion, rank and notoriety, such as Lady Jocelyn could always gather round her. All her country neighbours were there to criticise, or admire, or envy thestylein which everything was done. They did not care for private theatricals, nor expect any amusement, but they came all the same. Kate looked rather nervously at the crowd, as she took her place on one of the chairs. The comedy was to be performed first. ‘Then followed her little piece with Tom Rivers. Sir Wilfred had been greatly incensed by her refusal to take any part in the first piece, and had declared he would throw up his own in consequence —a proceeding which would not have materially affected the play, although the laments and entrea- ties of the rest of the company seemed to convey that it would do so most seriously. Considering the disputes, the throwing up of parts, the scanty rehearsals, and the general incompetency of every one associated with the performance, Kate only anticipated a perfect fiasco. But the consum- mate conceit of the amateur is a thing which sensible folk can but behold and marvel at.. No doubt the COMicloe (Sri C(O)