The Man in Possession — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

208 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. ing,’ said Kate. ‘‘I simply detest housekeeping. I’ve only had one idea all my life, and that is to be an actress,” ‘‘Is that so?” exclaimed Mrs. Lafaye in surprise. ‘*Qh, I don’t think you'd like the life. It’s awfully hard, and even under the best auspices you can’t escape a certain amount of roughing.” ‘‘T shouldn't mind that,” said Kate, her eyes kind- ling. ‘‘Anything would be better than the conven- tional drudgery I have undergone and still must undergo.” ‘Mrs.* Lafaye seemed to consider her worthy of anxious inspection, and her face grew almost grave as she contemplated the flushed cheeks and quiver- ing lips, and the queenly pose of that girlish figure. ‘‘How do you manage to suppress yourself?” she asked at last. ‘‘Isn’t it hard?” ‘‘Hard !” exclaimed Kate. ‘‘I should think it was hard. I feel well-nigh desperate sometimes! But then I say to myself it’s only a sort of—illness. It can’t last. It comes of moping, and stagnation, and worry, and monotony combined. [ll get over it after a while, but while it lasts——” ‘““Oh, Kate,” said her friend softly, ‘‘I know—l know. How I feel for you! How I wish I could help you!” Kate calmed herself by a strong effort. ‘‘T shall have to go back to it all to-morrow—or marry Sir Wilfred. A real ‘choice of evils —is it not?” she said. She closed the lid of the box and locked it; then turned to the fire and the pretty figure sitting there COMicloe <Sii C(O)