The Man in Possession — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 11g very well for one’s friends to say it is good—but they are prejudiced in one’s favour.” ‘You will be able to judge to-night who are pre- judiced in your favour,” said Tom. ‘‘I think there are some here who do not love you, Miss O’Brien.” Kate laughed. ‘‘ That,” she said, “‘is very evident. But do you not think it would be possible to please them in an independent character?” ‘‘If the Independent Character delivers those sharp little speeches with as much point of forceto-night as she did a few moments ago, I scarcely think she will win more favour than Miss O’Brien has done.” ‘It is a humiliating confession,” said Kate, looking at the young man with her beautiful candid eyes. ‘‘But I am never popular with women. I wonder why?” Tom laughed softly. ‘‘Ask your glass, not me,” he said. ‘‘It will tell you how much they have to forgive. And, as arule, forgiveness of their own sex is not a feminine virtue, though to ours they show a praiseworthy forbearance.” ‘I dislike compliments, Mr. Rivers,” said Kate haughtily, ‘‘and surely no sensible woman would take the credit of her looks to herself. It is such a pure accident, and to nature alone belongs the praise. We do not blame a woman because she has red _ hair orahump. Why should we blame her if she has a straight nose, or a good pair of eyes, or a complexion that is independent of artificial aid?” ‘‘T have not looked at the matter in that light before,” said the young man meekly. ‘‘ But as you say, why should you, or rather your sex (which I COMicloe (Sri C(O)