The Man in Possession — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

166 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. I am very sorry you have such strong opinions, as I fear you may lead poor Sir Wilfred into unsafe paths, and he—he has been such a good friend and adherent to our party. But perhaps,” she added, with an in- dulgent smile, ‘‘when you too are allied to us, you will look upon things differently.” Kate flushed at the insinuation and the patronage. ‘‘If I know myself at all,” she said proudly, ‘I know also that no ‘Alliance,’ however great or noble, could make the slightest difference in my feel- ings or opinions.” ‘‘T am sure of that,” said Lady Jocelyn kindly. She was a little uneasy at the prospect of affairs and desirous of keeping the peace. ‘‘ Come, Kate,” she added, ‘‘I want a chat with you before dinner, so I’m going to carry you off to my dressing-room. Do you know,” and she turned to the group of tea-gowned dames and damsels who were making a move stair- wards—‘‘ do you know that Mrs. Jackson Lafaye has arrived at last? I expect her toilettes will give us something to talk about more exciting even than politics |” . ‘No, has she really? When did she come. Why didn’t you tell us before?” cried a chorus of voices. ‘‘She’s the best dresser in London,” said Lady Westmoreland, gloomily conscious that her ruby velvet dinner-gown was showing signs of ‘‘ wear and tear,” and that her diamonds couldn't claim comparison with those of Mrs. Jackson Lafaye, which rumour declared had once been the property of a great French empress. ‘‘And the prettiest, at least the Prince said so,” COMicloe (Sri C(O)