The Man in Possession — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 73 looked so well on a less perfect figure, or set off by less richness of colouring. Indeed, Kate’s dusky bronze hair, and dark-lashed eyes, and creamy skin with its lovely tints of cheek and lips would have set off sackcloth itself. However, she managed to make all her prepara- tions by the day fixed by Lady Jocelyn, and packed her modest little trunk, and saw to her father’s ne- cessities, and was ready and waiting for him a full half-hour before he appeared. Biddy was fussing about, brimful of anxiety, and showering blessings and prayers for good luck on her young mistress, with tearful eloquence. ‘Shure 'tis I'll be lonesome widout ye, Miss,” she said wiping hereyes. ‘‘ Tis sorry lam now that the bailiffs was paid off, for they was company loike.” ‘* You’ve never heard of either of them, have you, Biddy ?” Kate asked, as she bent over the fastening of her glove. ‘‘Divil a word, Miss, but many’s the time I’ve thought o’ that young man, more especially since I contrived that he should see the master. ‘“My father?” asked Kate in astonishment, ‘‘ what did he want to see him about, Biddy ? ” ‘‘Sorra a bit I know, Miss Kate, unless he was after suggestin’ some new agint for borrowin’.. But the master he was moighty plazed about it, and you know yourself, Miss Kate, he paid off thim horse- laiches at onst.” ‘‘ Yes,” said Kate, the flush on her cheek wavering and deepening, ‘‘butI never knew, Biddy, that Smith had seen my father. You should have told me.” COMicloe (Sri C(O)