The Man in Possession — page 318: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. — 313 He was silent for a moment, gulping down an emotion that threatened to overcome his magnan- imous resolutions, Kate sat there perfectly still, her hands folded on her lap, her eyes downcast, a strange feeling of shame and misery oppressing her. ‘‘Things were bad enough before,” he went on presently. ‘‘ But at least I thought you were heart free. Now I know you're not even that. I may be a bad lot—Kate—and a selfish devil into the bargain, but... ‘pon my honour, I’m not bad enough or selfish enough to force youto marry me. I love you too well to make you unhappy, and you'd never be anything but that' I seeitallnow. Oh, don’t speak, I've made up my mind.. Yes, Ill go back to Croft, and you shall be free and everything just as it was before— that visit.” She lifted her eyes then. Nothing could disguise their glad relief. Not even the tears that sprang into their depths, and were answered by the tears of weakness in his own ‘* May God bless you, Wilfred,” she faltered. ‘‘ You are very generous. I don’t deserve it. I’ve acted so badly. If you only knew how I despise myself.” ‘¢There’s no need,” hesaid. ‘‘Ishould have taken your first answer, Kate... . But there’s one thing more—your father? You must let me break this to him, for—I don’t mind telling you—he’s sure to cut up rough about itt However, I think I can square him, and then—then you'll try and be good friends with me, Kate. I don’t like to think I'll lose you al- together. You could have made a better fellow of COMicloe (Sri C(O)