The Man in Possession — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

rd 76 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. capacity for making money almost elastic in its powers—with all those excellent qualities why are you curious? Isn't it sufficient to know these extremely disagreeable people are paid off, and that here we are on our way to a delightful house, and with every prospect of a delightful visit?—that we can forget debts and—and bailiffs, and bad cooking, and vari- ous other discomforts which I regret to say make up for me that much bepraised abode called ‘ Home,’ —isn't all this sufficient for you, my dear, without drawing my memory back to—well, decidedly unpleasant subjects ?” “‘I only thought,” said Kate, ‘‘ that it was rather sudden ; and that perhaps—Smith 7 ‘‘What on earth put that into your head?” said O’Brien, rather sharply. ‘‘Smith—what could he have to do with the matter?” ‘‘Only that he asked to see you for the purpose of suggesting some accommodation.” ‘‘Did he tell you so?” ‘‘No—it was Biddy yho told me.” ‘‘ Biddy is a d d meddling old Irishwoman. I wouldn't keep her a day, only—only—well, she’s been so long in the family.” ‘‘And never asks for her wages—and does the work of two servants,” said Kate quietly. O’Brien laughed again. ‘Well, as to wages, what would she bedoing with money ? Only spending it on nonsense, or getting into mischief. Its quite safe with me. I’m a sort of bank where she has a deposit account. It will all be paid up some day.” COMicloe (Sri C(O)