The Man in Possession — page 221: what you’re looking at

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

216 THE MAN IN POSSESSION, have withheld the fact that those said ‘‘halls” were rapidly falling into decay, and that the ‘‘state” kept up in them consisted of a mildewed ‘‘boy” who was verging upon threescore and ten, and an equally ancient housekeeper, to whom the honour of her position seemed equivalent to years of arrears in wages. “¢ By the way,” said Kate suddenly, ‘‘did you say, Biddy, that that young man Smith had called here? What did he want?” ‘‘He said he wanted to know whin the master would be returning,” said Biddy. ‘‘’Twas at the airy-door he was spaking to me. _ I invited him in, but he wouldn’t accipt. Seemed in a moighty hurry, Miss Kate. But hed jist the same pleasant word and way wid him as Iver.” Kate's face grew suddenly cold and stern. ‘‘If he calls again, Biddy,” she said, ‘‘bring him up to me. I wish to see him.” ‘‘T will, Miss Kate, though why should you be demaning yourself to throuble about the likes o’ him? Shure were done with bailiffs now for iver and iver. The Lord be praised. And as for all thim bothering shopkeepers! (bad scran to them,) wont I be giving them their due now. Ah, you may trust Biddy Callaghan to do that same. Per- secutin’ a respictable family, the thavin’ blagyards. But those days are over, thank the Lord.” ‘Don’t be too sure, Biddy,” said Kate coldly. “Tm not married yet, and prospects are poor coinage to offer in payment of debts.” | ‘‘Trust me to manage that, Miss Kate, and don’t COMicloe (Sri C(O)