The Man in Possession — page 268: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 263 Lafaye’s society, or of herinterest in him. The duty of ‘‘speeding the parting guest” was a duty for which he felt himself eminently qualified on this special evening, and it was with quite suspicious alacrity that he returned to the drawing-room. Almost every one had left. Mrs. Lafaye still lin- gered, however. She was standing by the table which contained the volume of illustrated Castles of Great Britain, and apparently absorbed in the study of ‘‘Dungeons.” As Colonel Lawrence approached she looked up somewhat eagerly. His face was grave and almost displeased. The expression alarmed her. | ‘‘T hope,” she said, ‘‘there is nothing the mat- ter?” | ‘Oh, nothing,” he said stiffly. ‘‘1 was merely going to observe I trust you enjoyed your even- ing.” ‘‘There is a suggestion in your voice,” she said, ‘that I ought not to have enjoyed it. ButI really have. Your friend is quite delightful—for an Eng- lishman.” ‘‘He is a very genuine young fellow,” said the colonel, somewhat coldly. ‘‘But-don’t you think it is a dear little romance? ” said Mrs. Lafaye eagerly. ‘‘Could any one have imagined that I should meet him in this extraordinary manner ?” | | ‘“Romance?” said the Colonel, looking some- what puzzled. ‘‘I—I don’t understand.” ‘“Why, he is the hero—the other one, explained Mrs. Lafoye. ‘‘I told you | was interested in a love 9 ECOMNCE OOO SS) (SO