The Man in Possession — page 257: what you’re looking at

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

452 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. ‘I think it is very surprising,” she answered, he: delicate face bent downwards on the book, whose leaves she idly turned. ‘‘I did not treat you well,” she added in a lower tone. ‘‘No,” he said. ‘‘ You did not, but perhaps you could not help it.” ‘‘T was too cowardly to help it, and then, when it was too late, knew that your misjudgment was only the natural result ” ‘‘Perhaps,” he said gently, ‘‘I did not misjudge you. Might I not have understood the—reason ?” She coloured softly, then closed the book with some abruptness. ‘‘Let us not discuss each other,” she said. ‘‘I have a horror of analysis, either of character or motive. It is nice to be cheated into believing people are what you want them to be. I am very glad we have met again. You are stay- ing at this hotel, I suppose?” ‘“Yes—and you?” ‘Tama bird of passage. But I make this my headquarters. I’ve only just returned from the country to-day: I came up on a diplomatic mission which I’m terribly afraid I shall never carry through.” ‘T should think you might carry anything through, if you once made up your mind to do it.” “It is a love affair,” she said, smiling. ‘‘Two young people I know are obstinately bent on making themselves unhappy. I am ambitious to play fairy godmother. Do you think I shall suc- ceed?” ‘‘T should sayso. Personally, I don’t know much about love affairs, but it is odd that my young friend COMicloe (Sri C(O)