The Man in Possession — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

84 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. papers say.” His voice betrayed regret that the visit was to be so short a one. ‘Do you know Sir Wilfred—very well?” asked Kate, glancing at that vapid youth, who was loung- ing against the mantel-shelf and listening to her father. The young fellow’s eyes followed hers. ‘‘Heisa great friend of mine,” he said gravely. ‘‘Iassure you he’s no end of a good fellow—when you know him.” | ‘‘And how long atime does it require to do—that?” asked Kate innocently. ‘*Of course that would depend on the mood he was in. After dinner and a bottle or two of cham- pagne, he’s very companionable, quite affectingly so. At other times he’s inclined to be a little— reserved.” ‘Would you call his present mood a reserved one?” the girl asked, glancing at the wandering eyes, and pale face, and expression of imbecile help- lessness that the youth in discussion presented. ‘‘No; far from it,” he answered quickly. ‘‘ But he is not doing himself justice. There are persons who require a congenial atmosphere before they can breathe freely. Now, Wilfred is not quite happy in society vs | ‘‘T should imagine not,” said Kate, still observant of the said Wilfred’s uneasy air and vapid, expres- sionless face. ‘‘ Has he any special tastes?” she asked abruptly. Tom Rivers glanced quickly, almost disapprov- ingly, at her. ‘‘Is she really going to join in the COMICOOOKS.€O