The Man in Possession — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 243 herself again and again she would never forgive him. On that point she was still determined—never —as long as she lived ! | The only thing she could do was to hasten on her marriage with Sir Wilfred. He was coming up to London in a few days’ time. She would tell him then that she was ready to be his wife as soon as he desired. It would be an effectual cure for her brief romance, an effectual answer to Tom Rivers. It would end her father’s difficulties and—please Sir Wilfred and his mother. Lady Jocelyn had begged her to let the wedding*take place soon. Well—so let it be. There was nothing to hold back for— nothing to hope. The sooner her fate was sealed the better. Having arrived at this wise conclusion, she dashed aside her tears, went up to her room and wrote a full and particular account of everything to Mrs. Lafaye! ‘* Youth finds strange comfort in self-torture,” said Mrs. Lafaye meditatively, as she finished reading Kate's blurred, impulsive letter. ‘‘Poor girl, she is very much to be pitied, but why will she persist in making bad worse? She’s just as much in love with that young man as ever she can be, and yet she seems bent on sacrificing her own life and his on the altar of her wounded vanity. It’s of no use to speak toher. Ican see that. IfI am to be of any service I must see the young man himself—get behind the scenes, as it were.” Then she laughed softly. ‘‘ He certainly has made ECOMNCE OOO SS) (SO