The Man in Possession — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

34 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. had met with the reward of merit, and great musicians been free to write their music as it was in them to write it, instead of frittering away time and genius in the effort for ‘ popularity ’; if statesmen had been as honest as they were zealous in a nation’s cause, with no party feeling in the background and no selfish personal advantage offered as the price of their services ; if nations had ceased to covet other territories, and crowned heads settled their own disputes instead of wasting innocent lives and desolating homes by the false cry of ‘glory and patriotism’; if Oh, but there is no end toit when one once begins to think. And there is no class, no grade, to whom the same rule would not apply. Think of yourself,” she went on eagerly, dropping her spoon and forgetting all about the pudding in her enthusiasm, ‘‘even you might make carpenter- ing and cabinet-making into an art—something beautiful and refined, and spend your leisure hours in study, improvement, and invention instead o " She came to an abrupt pause and blushed as she caught sight of the young man’s admiring eyes. ‘‘Instead of—pray go on,” he said. ‘‘Ihope you are not going to suggest public-houses or tea-gardens. I assure you I do not frequent those haunts of delir- ious bliss. I may plead guilty to a music hall.” » Her pretty lips curled scornfully. ‘They are low,” she said with assured conviction as of one who knew. ‘‘I amsurprised you should like them.” Now whyshould she be surprised, and why should she suppose this young carpenter was superior to any other young carpenter or artisan for whom COnniclooe® (Sri C(O)