The Man in Possession — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 273 name and to take advantage of information gained in this secret character, and use it in another.” ‘‘But tf he loved you? Can't you see how the first false step was quite involuntary? You mistook him for—let us call it the ‘Man in Possession.’ He nat- urally played on the part because he did not wish you should suffer the humiliation of finding he was some one you already knew. I think it was very noble—myself. I—I only wish Colonel Lawrence had given me such a striking proof of his affection. I like a struggle before a surrender, but 1 think your struggle is overdone, Kate. You are fighting against yourself as well as against him.” ‘‘Perhaps,” said the girl coldly, ‘‘ you will tell me what cause I have to break off my engagement with Sir Wilfred. Do you think I shall be playing a very noble part? I confess I do not, even if—if I could forgive Tom Rivers ” ‘You know you have done that long ago in your heart, but you won't acknowledge it. It must bea very unpleasant reflection. As for playing a part, noble or ignoble, that matters little compared with the sacrifice of two lives. Human happiness is too brief and too precious for us to play fast and loose with it, Kate. Even when we gain it, its stay is very, very short compared with all the pain and all the sorrow that life holds. Better a thousand times that you should confess the whole truth to Sir Wil- fred and——” , She started as a knock at the door cut short her words, and Biddy entered almost immediately, bear- ing a card in her hand. 18 ECOMNCE OOO SS) (SO