The Man in Possession — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

160 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. e incensed by what they termed her ‘‘ absurd parade of satisfaction.” They could not imagine what charm she could see in the penniless, haughty Irish girl that their own daughters had not possessed in a far greater degree. However, the die was cast, the race was run. The matrimonial stakes had been won by a rank ‘‘ outsider,” and all they could do was to pocket their wrath and pay their losses. Kate sat there amidst the brilliant tea-gowns, and listened and smiled and replied, and all the time the hollowness of it and the stupidity of it disgusted and bored her. ‘‘When I can entertain, I will ask people with brains and minds to my house, not sawdust dolls,” she thought in disgust as she listened to the shallow conventionalities, the idle gossip, or jargon of slang and stable which made up the conversation. She could not yet understand what pleasure people could find in talking about the affairs of other people, or spicing their remarks about them with hints and suggestions and spite, that even wit could not redeem. ‘‘ Surely,” she thought, with that warmth and honesty of youth which believes the world need only be told a truth to accept it—‘‘surely it would be so easy and so pleasant to be mutual and sincere, to say kind things, not malicious ones!” But no, it seems as if society lives on deceit and cares only to deceive. Lives are consumed in an elaborate pretence at happiness, which every one knows is misery. Exist- ence is an unending affectation, and people seem honestly afraid to show they are sorry or glad or surprised or grateful for anything that happens. ‘* Why do you look so grave, my dear ?” said Lady COMicloe (Sri C(O)