The Man in Possession — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 201 ton Castle possesses a singularly interesting and commemorative vaultage. I will read you the ac- count of it if you like.” ‘‘No, you can describe it,” she said lightly. <I hope there are chains there—rusty chains and gaolers’ keys that rattle hideously. Those are the things that I should call ‘commemorative.’” ‘“Why this singular taste?” asked Tom, laughing in spite of himself. ‘‘Is it singular? I really can’t offer any reason. Simply that the fault lies at the door of early English history. By the by,” she added quickly, ‘‘ you've selected a Scotch castle. Why is that?” -“Tts history appeared more interesting,” said Colonel Lawrence. ‘‘Also, there are very few Eng- lish castles—with dungeons—that are to be viewed.” ‘“That,”. she said, ‘‘is conclusive. We will goto Dumbarton, Colonel. It's somewhere on the Clyde, isn’t it?” “Yes,” he said, ‘‘but may I suggest that this is scarcely the time of year to go touring in Scotland.” ‘‘Qh,” she said lightly, ‘‘we will postpone it till the spring or the summer, then. I’m sure you're in no hurry to return to America?” His looks conveyed that he certainly was not, so long as she chose to remain away from that interest- ing country, but he only said briefly— ‘‘T am at your service.” Tom Rivers went back to his rooms that night in a frame of mind that was a delightful combination of hope and anxiety. Mrs. Lafaye had worked this ECOMNCE OOO SS) (SO