The Man in Possession — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 251 composed. He, on the contrary, was nervous and uncertain. ‘‘What have you done with your friend?” she asked presently. ‘‘I—I thought you were dining with some one.” ‘“Yes,” answered the Colonel in his direct, simple manner. ‘‘ Heisa young fellow whose acquaintance I only made yesterday. I asked him todine. At present he is in the smoking-room.” ‘And are you making a long stay in England?” she asked. ‘T_T hardly know. I came over with a vague idea of a holiday ... and a vague hope that I might meet—you. You told me once you would be sure to go to England if ever you were rich—or free.” ‘You knew that I was free?” she said ina low voice, less steady now than it had been a moment before. ‘‘I knew it,” he said gravely. ‘‘ You do not, I hope, expect me to say I regret the fact, even for your sake,” ‘‘No,” she said. ‘‘Friendship accords frankness, and you were always frank.” ‘It is a soldiers virtue. I wonder if I might say that I hope the friendship of the past is not quite— forgotten ?” ‘*Do you think it is? Am I likely to be less faithful to its memory than yourself?” ‘‘Qh,” he said, ‘‘I deserve no credit. I simply could not help it. You see, it isn’t my nature to make friends easily. Inever had many. It is notsurpris- ing I should remember—you.” ECOMNCE OOO SS) (SO