The Man in Possession — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

8 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. firm chin for nothing. Used to managing people, I should say—not half bad to be managed by her. I’m sure she’s come to meet some old weak-minded father or pretty helpless sister. I wonder if I dare venture on a remark ?” He drew out his watch and looked at the time. ‘‘Nearly half an hour late,” he observed, addressing no one in particular but offering the suggestion as a prelude to conversation, should his companion be dis- posed to accept it. The girl glanced at him with those eyes he had called ‘‘ steady and fearless.” She did not smile, but said simply—‘‘ It must be owing to the fog. Ihope there has been no accident.” ‘‘Oh, no. I’m sure there hasn't,” the young man said cheerfully. He was rather inclined to be cheer- fulas arule. His face was bright and expressive of good nature and content—a by no means unenvi- able nature in a world where circumstances and people are apt to be trying and aggressive. ‘‘It is rather—trather tiring work waiting for trains,” he re- sumed, taking courage from the fact of being as yet ‘‘ unsnubbed.” ‘‘I think people oughtn’t to expect it. Now here I had to get up at five o’clock just because a maiden aunt has chosen to come over from Ireland to spend Christmas with my people.” He said ‘‘my people” in an easy, familiar way as if his companion would fully understand their posi- tion, worth, and numeric value. She smiled for the first time. ‘‘I,” she said, ‘‘have come to meet my father. He has been over to Cork on business. Do you know Ireland at all?” she added abruptly. — COMicloe (Sri C(O)