The Man in Possession — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

190 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. but, I never could remember who it was—or where we had met. He declared he was a cabi- net-maker.... he certainly was wonderfully well mannered and educated... . and good-looking ——” ‘“‘Kate.”.... interrupted Mrs. Lafaye gravely— ‘is it possible that I shall have to acknowledge you as a fraud. What business had you talking to and— flirting—with a superior young workman. You are not a Democrat, you know.” ‘‘T assure you, said Kate earnestly, ‘‘there was nothing of the sort. My father was ill, the servant was out and....he and I made the Christmas pudding.” Mrs. Lafaye’s silvery laughter sounded in uncon- trolled mirth through the room. ‘‘Why, this is perfectly fascinating,” she exclaimed joyously. ‘‘It would awaken enthusiasm in a politi- cian! It has faintly dawned upon me, Kate, that that Christmas pudding may form a connecting link between your two admirers.” ‘‘T don’t see how that could be,” answered Kate; ‘‘and please don’t jump at conclusions. I do want some help. ‘Tom Smith, the bailiff, told me he had a double—some one so curiously like himself that—but for their relative stations in life they could scarcely be distinguished. When I came here and met Tom Rivers, the first thing that flashed across my mind was this story of the double ” ‘* Better and better,” murmured Mrs. Lafaye. ‘‘The interest gets psychological. . .. And so you left Tom Smith at your house in town and found his Dépple- ganger here at Croft in the person of Tom Rivers. COMicloe (Sri C(O)