The Man in Possession — page 208: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 203 ‘ once she’s given her word, by Jove, sir, she'll be no O’Brien if she doesn’t keep it.” ‘‘Thank you,” said Sir Wilfred tearfully. ‘“‘ You're —you're awfully good... ’pon my honour. I—I won't forget you, O’Brien. One good turn, you know...” He gulped down champagne and tears together, and then rose—somewhat unsteadily, it must be con- fessed—and proposed they should rejoin the ladies. The atmosphere of the drawing-room seemed less serene than its wont. The ‘‘banjo young lady” had given up her delightful accomplishment since Sir Wilfred had not ‘‘ winked” that affirmative response to her overture of affection which she had once fondly anticipated. The banjo was mute, the strings were tuneless, and the silvery voice of its owner was hushed in despair and disgust. It was all the fault of ‘‘that girl,” and that girl herself was sitting at the piano now, singing in her lovely rich contralto one of Moore's tender and pathetic melodies. The dowagers looked impatient; the girls—united by a common cause, and inspired by a sense of injustice—were supremely and languidly indifferent to the voice of the syren who had beguiled their prey. Only Lady Jocelyn and Mrs. Jackson Lafaye " seemed to be listening, and the flutter of fans and incessant whispering were rather an annoyance to the latter. As the song ceased she addressed the company generally. ‘‘When I write my book on English Society, its Manners and Mysteries,” she said, ‘‘I sha’n’t fail to mention the general apprecia- tion of drawing-room music. It seems all one to ECOMNCE OOO SS) 1 CO}