The Man in Possession — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

222 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. whips. He had only looked at the matter from his side hitherto: he forgot how different it might appear from hers. ‘‘T see,” he said bitterly, ‘‘that you are determined to condemn me. _ I know I have been a fool, butit is nonsense to say I don’t honour you. I wish to God I could tell you how much. But you are determined to be as pitiless now as you were at Croft. Why can’t you believe I love you? Is itso unlikely—so impossible? I know I can't undo what I have done ; but is your heart so hard—so unforgiving? Itsa terrible thing to love as I love you, Kate, and then hear oneself judged and condemned. . . not—not even pitied.” His voice broke. Notall the strength and dignity of manhood could keep the hot salt tears from his eyes as he looked on that beautiful proud face—so cold, so stern, so merciless. ‘‘T fail to see why I should pity you,” she said, ‘‘ or believe in you either. Your whole course of conduct seems to me utterly unworthy and inexcusable. . . Need I say—more?”’ The cold steady look, the gesture of her hand towards the bell as if in dismissal, well-nigh made him desperate. | ‘I could find it in my heart to wish you too may suffer as you make me,” he said passionately. ‘‘ After all, a man’s love isnt a light thing, or given every day. Are you really so cold? Do you hate me? Won't you ever—forgive ?” All the arrogance of her race—all the hurt and offended instincts of her womanhood—all that under- COMicloe (Sri C(O)