The Man in Possession — page 320: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 315 The little Baronet had grown somewhat tired of the perpetual claims on his purse made by his pros- pective father-in-law. As he entered the room now, faultlessly dressed, and with that jaunty air and self- satisfied smile that spoke of things going well with him, Sir Wilfred regarded him with gloomy disap- probation. ‘‘Going to the club?” he asked. ‘Why, yes, my dear boy. I think I shall drop in there,” said O’Brien genially, as if the idea had only just presented itself to him. ‘I hope you won't be lonely for an hour ortwo. But no doubt Kate will soon be down to read and chat with you.” ‘‘ Have you noticed how ill she looks?” asked Sir Wilfred shortly. ‘‘Tll—oh, nothing at all. Only a little paleness and languor. Effects of anxiety on your behalf and confinement indoors. Nothing to be alarmed at, my dear boy . . . nothing.” ‘‘I’m not only alarmed, I’m seriously upset about it,” said Sir Wilfred. ‘‘I don’t want the girl to kill herself for my sake. She’s much too good to be sacrificed for such a pair as we are, O’Brien.” It was not complimentary, but Cornelius threw off the reproach as lightly as if he had not remarked it. ‘<Sacrifice . . . who talks of sacrifice,” he said, drawing on his delicate tan-coloured gloves with languid grace. ‘‘She’s a very fortunate girl, and I'm sure, will be a happy one. I confess I don't see any sacrifice in that.” ‘‘You know as well as I do,” said Sir Wilfred gloomily, ‘‘that the girl always hated me. Shedon' (Sri C(O) COMIC OOO