The Man in Possession — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 233 the working classes, and sympathised with the ‘horny-handed Sons of Toil.’ I can't say I’ve found them absolutely interesting, and the tendency to ‘ beer and ’alf holidays’ is very universal, but I hope some day I shall do something for them. Their lives are very hard and very monotonous. One wonders some- times they are so patient or so loyal.” ‘‘Ves, that loyalty to a mere tradition, to a by- gone and effete royalty, is a very curious charac- teristic of you English,” said Colonel Lawrence thoughtfully. ‘‘It’s like bowing to the puppets of a show without ever inquiring what the show Is about. And so you're going in for public life?” he added. ‘‘] hope so,” said the young man, rising to pour out the coffee. ‘‘Unless I turn explorer, and go out to Africa. That’s the only place left us, isn’t it, that’s got any explorable ground?” ‘‘l wouldn't turn explorer if I were you,” said Colonel Lawrence. ‘‘It’s a hard life, and but ill-re- compensed. Better stay at homeand go into Parlia- ment. I’m afraid I’m rather rigid and old-fashioned, but if I could change places with you, I’d try and make a mark in life while I had youth and energy and health to do it.” Tom Rivers sighed. He was thinking how object- less life had suddenly become, how little satisfaction there would be in making that ‘‘ mark ” of which the American spoke, when no one would care as to its merit or defects—no eyes brighten or grow soft—no lips utter praise or blame. ... Here he pulled him- self up abruptly, and looking at his guest found that he was regarding him with speculative gravity. 9 ECOMNCE OOO SS) (SO