The Man in Possession — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 179 ‘‘They may be a mistake,” said Kate coldly, ‘‘ but scarcely so great a one as a hurried marriage.” ‘‘Well,” said O’Brien good-humouredly, ‘‘I am not going to press you on the point ; you and Jocelyn can arrange it between you. Only, I may as well hint that one feels one’s obligations to a son-in-law less than to an expectant suitor. By the way, Kate, cul- tivate that little American if you get the chance— she’s fabulously wealthy, and shed be a very useful friend to you when it comes to the wedding-toggery— you understand.” ‘* Perfectly,’ said Kate. She felt hurt, ashamed, indignant. Was she never to be free from these obligations, free to cultivate a friendship that was disinterested, or claim a love that was worthy and unselfish ? It seemed very hard. This hint of her father’s frightenedher. She had no desire to be hurried into this marriage. As long as it was a far-off prospect there seemed something vague and hopeful about it. Something, anything, might — happen to prevent it. But if Sir Wilfred was already impatient, and if her father and Lady Jocelyn urged a speedy termination to her engagement, she felt it would be well-nigh hopeless to resist. Her father’s affairs were terribly complicated. Once she was settled and ‘‘off his hands,” to use the conventional phrase, he could give up the house in town and live more economically as well as comfortably. It was scarcely likely he would postpone his convenience for an indefinite time to suit her wishes. The cloud on her browdeepened. She looked any- COMicloe (Sri C(O)