The Man in Possession — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 319 asked. ‘‘ Given Kate up—broken off the engage- ment? Why, when I was there this afternoon he was as keen on it as ever.” ‘‘Well, I only know what I had from his own lips,” said O’Brien. ‘‘ Of course it’s all Kate's fault. She’s offended him, or slighted him, or... .” ‘‘Stop.” said Mrs. Lafaye sharply. ‘‘ You know as well as I do that the girl never cared about him. Have you been blind to the change in her. She looks perfectly broken down and miserable. She's just been killing herself to please you and to keep her word. I’ve a higher opinion of Sir Wilfred than I ever thought possible if he’s really acted as you say.” ‘I think he’s behaved in a most dishonourable manner,” said Cornelius wrathfully. ‘‘ Within a month o1 two of actual marriage to break off the match like this, and set every one talking about it.” ‘‘Let them talk,” said Mrs. Lafaye contemptuously. ‘‘We are all a great deal too frightened of what people say. Just as if it really mattered. Would one of these gossipers or scandal-mongers hold out a hand to save us from any misery or any trouble? Would they care for our heart-breaks, or heart-aches even if we acted as they decide we ought to act; as they are so ready to affirm they would act in our place? Ive no patience with little mindedness. And I don’t see what you’ve to complain of,” she added. ‘‘If Kate breaks off with Sir Wilfred shecan make quite as good a match. Don’t you know that Mr. Rivers is the favoured lover?” ‘‘Rivers—Tom Rivers—why he was staying at eonnicboo (Sri C(O)