The Man in Possession — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

268 TITE MAN IN POSSESSION. “Why, you, of course,” said Mrs. Lafaye. ‘‘I could not rest after receiving your letter. It made me just awfully miserable. Ah, was that the shudder of guilt, or of repentance?” ‘‘Neither,” said Kate coldly. ‘‘I—I think the room is chilly. Biddy had only Just lit the fire.” ‘“T’ve sent my carriage away, said Mrs. Lafaye, unloosening her furs, ‘‘beca@use I meant to havea real good long talk with you. I know Sir Wilfred’s coming up later in the day, so I concluded Id fore- stall him.” She seated herself by the fire, which was smoulder- ing cheerlessly in the grate, and glanced up at Kate standing erect and graceful before her in her simple dark cloth gown. ‘‘Come and sit down,” she said imperiously. ‘‘I don’t feel on equal terms when you're looking down upon me in that grand style. And I’ve come to scold you—so I can’t allow any airs of superiority.” Kate took another chair, but she did not smile, She was conscious of having behaved wrongly, and yet determined to uphold both her actions and reasons. The first thing she felt necessary was to steel herself against Mrs. Lafaye's fascinations. ‘‘Now,” said the pretty American, ‘‘I’m going to give you two startling items of news. First, I’m going to be married.” ‘‘What!” exclaimed Kate. ‘‘T thought that would surprise you,” said Mrs. Lafaye, smiling. ‘‘It’s a fact. No—it’s no one at Croft—nor any of the twenty-five titles graciously offered for my acceptance. It’s an old friend——" COMicloe (Sri C(O)