The Man in Possession — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

194 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. all—they will suggest I had better get married... and perhaps in desperation I shall say, ‘Get the licence and get it over.’ And then—well, I suppose I shall be no worse off than the general run of women one meets. Few of them are happy.” ‘‘But you might be—you ought to be. Ive no special influence over you—I wish I had. If I were your sister or your mother——” She broke off and laughed her pretty chiming laugh. ‘‘ Well, that’s on the cards anyhow. I might make myself fascinating to your father and help you that way.” Kate shuddered involuntarily. ‘‘ Don’t jest,” she said. ‘‘Somehow I’m not in. the mood for it. I more than appreciate your confidence . . . and your interest in me, bnt I don't see that you can help me —or indeed any one else.” ‘* The difficulty is not insurmountable, ” said Mrs, Lafaye, regarding her thoughtfully, ‘‘and I’m in want of occupation. I always get into mischief when I’m idle . . . or else I get morbid. And I hate being morbid. I shall have to thank you for rousing me in time. These women here would have brought on an attack.” ‘‘T think,” said Kate, smiling, ‘‘you are more than equal to their capacity—either for annoyance or insult.” ‘*Qh, I’m not afraid, but I prefer to be unmolested and not to be ruffled . . . and that dowager in the purple velvet, she does set my back up. However, I'm not going to let her disturb my sleep to-night. Now, I suppose you're just about dying to go to your retiring-room. We've been very feminine, haven’t COMicloe (Sri C(O)