The Man in Possession — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 135 She intimated, however, that this card was at present all she needed, and endeavoured to induce him to leave the supper-room. This was a work of some difficulty, for Sir Wilfred, having secured a small table in a convenient corner, was in no hurry to put an end to the 4e-d-#le. His mind was so full of his rejection that he felt impelled to return to it again and again, with a view, apparently, of assuring himself that it was true. A few more glasses of champagne seemed to throw a glamour of hope around the subject, and he became maudlin, persuasive, tearful by turns, until Kate grew almost desperate. She could not escape, as she was hemmed in by the table and by the baronet himself, who sat opposite to her. She felt certain that their prolonged and rather public #fe-a-#fe had been severely commented upon, and was annoyed at her own folly in bringing it about. Added to this was a growing sense of irritation and annoyance at the discovery she had made. Finally she rose, unable to bear Sir Wilfred’s maud- lin speeches any longer. ‘< Please take me out of this room,” she said. ‘I am tired and—and faint. Besides, we have mono- polised this table too long already.” Sir Wilfred made a feeble effort to rise, but his in- tention exceeded his powers of execution. He sank back with lack-lustre eyes, and resumed his maudlin murmurs of admiration. Kate was seriously annoyed. ‘‘You must let me pass, Sir Wilfred,” she said with heightened colour. COMicloe (Sri C(O)