The Man in Possession — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. gt toilette, while Sir Wilfred contented himself with a prolonged and vacuous stare that enumerated to his own mind all her ‘‘points,” as he termed them, and further increased his infatuation. Lady Jocelyn in- formed her that there was to be a dance the follow- ing night, and also that they were getting up the inevitable ‘‘ private theatricals.” ‘‘T hope you will help us,” she said. ‘‘ Your father tells me you have quite a genius for acting.” ‘I’m afraid he exaggerates my talent,” said the girl laughing. ‘‘I am certainly very fond of it, and it is no trouble to commit a part to memory, but that is a long way from being a ‘genius, ” ‘‘Awh, by Jove, but I’m shaw you are, quite shaw you are,” burst out Sir Wilfred with a sudden enthusi- asm that surprised himself. ‘‘ You—awh—you look it, don’t yer know. By Jove, you do.” ‘‘ Haven't you learnt, Sir Wilfred; that you should never judge persons by their looks? ” ‘‘ Awh— yes—by Jove,” ejaculated the fascinated baronet. ‘‘But women, don’t yer know, they’re dif- ferent-—looks go for everything—present company not excepted,” he added brilliantly, as he threw what he deemed an expressive glance at the calm, queenly girl. She was surveying him with a merciless criticism that would have seriously discomposed any one less — hardened by conceit and a long career of obsequious flattery. ‘*You are very good to Say so,” she said, with a little scornful curl of her beautiful lips. ‘If many men think as you do, that looks convey character COMicloe (Sri C(O)