The Man in Possession — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

250 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. desire to visit the smoking-room. Colonel Lawrence excused himself from joining him at the shrine of nicotine in such a palpably nervous manner that Tom began dimly to perceive he was anxious to rejoin the beautiful American widow. He urged him diplomatically to do so, declaring that he could have his ‘‘weed,” look at the evening papers, and then join him and be introduced to the lady in question. The beaming radiance of Colonel Lawrence’s face gave ample assurance of the satisfaction this bit of diplomacy afforded. He escorted his guest to the smoking-room and then hurried off to find Mrs. Lafaye. That lady had so far recovered her usual composure that she was a iittle put out with herself for the self-betrayal of which she had been guilty. ‘‘He mustn't think I’m too pleased,” she said, and she buried herself in the biggest /au/euu she could find, and became absorbed in a novel. The ingenuous start she gave when a shadow fell across the page over which her head was bent, and the gravely demure wonderment of her eyes, afforded Colonel Lawrence a little uneasiness. ‘Had she not expected him?” he thought. ‘ I— I hope I haven’t come here too soon?” he said. ‘©It seemed so wonderful meeting like this. I didn’t know you were in England.” . ‘‘Then you don’t read your society papers,” she said archly. ‘‘For they announced that fact long ago... . Have you come to talk? Ifso, you might as well sit down.” He took the seat she indicated. She was perfectly a. COMIC DOOKS.E