The Man in Possession — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 61 payment. So-called ‘temporary accommodation ’ is full of horror to me.” ‘‘They are rather ensnaring words,” said the young man thoughtfully. ‘“ Only it depends on who offers it, doesn’t it, Miss ?” ‘‘T suppose so,” said Kate, wearily. ‘‘ But I did not ask you up here to talk about debts and diff- culties,” she added abruptly ; ‘‘only to take a glass of wine, or, if you prefer it, punch—in honour of the day. I believe Biddy is brewing it.” ‘‘Yes, she is,” he answered, inwardly breathing a hope that that estimable female would not hurry herself over the mysterious preparation. ‘‘Itis very kind of you to honour me by asking me up here to drink it.” ‘‘Do you know,” said Kate abruptly, ‘‘I am sure I have seen you before, and spoken to you too. I wish I could recollect where.” She was resting her firm little chin on her hand, and looked at him, as she spoke, with those steady, fearless eyes that had already done so much mis- chief. ‘‘Perhaps in a shop,” he suggested meekly. ‘‘You said you were a cabinet-maker,” said Kate musingly. ‘‘ Perhaps you work for some of the big shops. I may have seen you there, or given you an order?” The young man shook his head abstractedly, doubtfully, as one who is following a suggestion through a mental labyrinth of possibility. ‘‘ There are so many faces like each other,” he remarked. ‘‘ Haven’t you ever noticed, Miss, in the streets?” COMicloe (Sri C(O)