The Man in Possession — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 187 might you not grow fairly content with your lot. At least you are doing good to other people by your sacrifice.” ‘‘That might be so,” answered Mrs. Lafaye. ‘‘If you were quite sure that the other case was final. But you cannot always be sure.” Kate was silent. Her thoughts went back to a scene not yet two days old. She had said to herself that was final, but—was it? She clasped her hands with a sudden gesture of pain and impatience. Her lips trembled ; a torrent of words seemed struggling for freedom. ... All those hurt proud memories—all those commonplace unemotional things which had made up the sum of her life at Croft—all the suggestions and hopes that had fallen to the ground like a child’s card castle... all these rushed back on her like a flood and threat- ened to destroy that self-control which years of sup- pression had made into a habit. ‘‘You may tell me—what you please,” said Mrs. Lafaye gently, as she laid her small child-like hand on the girl’s clasped and nervous fingers. ‘‘I said I would be your friend. I mean it.” | ‘‘Oh, and I need one!” Kate cried passionately. ‘‘IT am so tired of being always alone—of keeping everythine—thoughts, feelings, desires—crushed up within myself. Oh, Iam so unhappy... so dread- fully unhappy !-” She bent her face on her hands. She was trem- bling greatly. She felt half afraid of what she might Say under pressure of so vivid and strong an emo- tion. COMicloe (Sri C(O)