The Man in Possession — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

146 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. even worse. Surely there must be some morecredit- able method of extricating yourself, father, than by selling me to a drunken imbecile like Sir Wilfred.” ‘‘He is no worse than—than hundreds of other young fellows of his position and—wealth,” answered Cornelius. ‘‘And hed be certain to reform. His very love and admiration for you would have a ben- eficial effect upon him.” ‘‘Possibly,” said Kate coldly. ‘‘ But I fail to see that they would have a beneficial effect on me; only, perhaps, that is not worth thinking of.” _ ‘It is only sentiment and nonsense,” said her father. ‘‘I thought you were too clever and sensible to behave like this. Upon my word, Kate, it is most trying, most exasperating. Haven't you had enough of troubles, and worries, and debts, and duns? You know I can scarcely keep a roof over you, or manage to supply the few necessaries of life for—for both of us. Not that I care for myself. I only want my club and my cutlet, and a bottle of wine in peace, and—and a little cash for contingencies at the card table ; but you —well, I’m only advising you in your own interests. Youre afine girl, a pretty girl, an accomplished girl. You're a thousand times better fitted for society than any of these wooden-headed dolls here, who look down upon you. You've distanced them all without the slightest trouble You’ve won Sir Wilfred as easily as possible—and then you throw him over. A girl who behaves like that is only fit for a lunatic asylum.” ‘‘Perhaps you had better send me to one,” said Kate indifferently. COMicloe (Sri C(O)