The Man in Possession — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

238 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. ‘‘No,” said Rivers, ‘‘it’s not pique. There might be some hope then.” He paused and looked at the Colonel. ‘‘I wonder,” he said, ‘‘how you know.” A grave smile lighted the dark face. “Oh,” he said, ‘‘it wasnt at all difficult. You're too young to play the hypocrite. It’s only love or money that makes the tragedy of youth. I could see it wasn’t the last.... And yet you were troubled—seriously troubled. I'll tell you frankly now that I didn’t like the look of your face when I met you on the Em- bankment. ' It had something desperate and reckless about it.” ‘‘T felt both,” Tom answered in a low, strained voice. ‘‘T was afraid something had gone wrong—very wrong. I did not think you ought to be alone in such a mood—at such a time. There comes the mood and the time in a young man’s life when the Tempter has him at his mercy. Heis quite defence- less—and quite blind. He doesn't see the danger— he doesn’t feel the need of defence—and then—he falls. And all his life—think of that, my boy... all his life—he tries to forget that fall, or retrace that false step, and he never can. Then he says, ‘If I had known—if I could have foreseen—if I had had a friend—— ” ‘You know life well,” said Tom huskily. ‘I should fancy you would be a good friend.” ‘‘A very true.one—and I like youth. Itis genuine —it is ingenuous—it is hopeful. I always look with interest at the new lives springing up in the vacant COMicloe (Sri C(O)