The Man in Possession — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

262 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. change in him. It was very satisfactory to find his conduct presented to him in the light that her Opin- ions had presented it. His natural anger, fierce, masculine, and brief, had passed away. He was more ready to excuse Kate now for her misjudg- ment than to excuse himself for his part in causing it. Huis old coolness and steadiness came to the res- cue, and he felt more than grateful to this unexpected ally who had appeared atso momentous a time. Surely their combined forces could save the girl from this sacrifice of herself. Surely she would listen to reason—persuasion—love. Ile sat up for long that night going over all the old ground, and trying to look at himself and his actions from Kate's point of view. He felt she could not regard him as much better than a fool—a creature of no fixed purpose or principle, and apt to be led away by vague, impulsive motives. She was so firm, so brave, so self-reliant, how could he expect-her to understand or forgive him? And yet he did expect both. He had Mrs. Lafaye to thank for it. And he was young enough to believe in miracles. He therefore went to bed and slept actually soundly and dream- lessly in the full anticipation that something in the shape of a miracle was to happen on the morrow— that he would be forgiven by Kate, reconciled to Kate, and able to woo and win her as he had so fixed a determination to do. Meanwhile, his new friend Colonel Lawrence had seen him depart with feelings of unmixed joy. He had not approved of his entire monopoly of Mrs. COMicloe (Sri C(O)