The Man in Possession — page 274: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 269 ‘‘Not—the friend—the man you spoke of, whom you had not seen for so many years?” ‘“Yes, the same. It’s very wonderful... and I’m—oh, Kate, I am so happy, I’m almost afraid.” She blushed softly, perhaps from some memory of those ‘‘many years” which Kate had recalled, and from which she had parted so tenderly the previous night—perhaps because of that wonderful and entrancing happiness which still had something vague and dreamlike about it. The girl looked at her, with a little wonder anda little envy. ‘‘I am glad you are happy. And so you met after all? Was it not rather unexpected?” ‘‘Perhaps that was why it happened,” said Mrs, Lafaye. ‘‘He came over to England, and chanced to go to the Langham Hotel. I told you I always kept on my rooms there: of course we met on my return from Croft. But that is only one item of news. Colonel Lawrence—that is the name of my future husband—was entertaining a friend at dinner last night, and, naturally, introduced him to me at the conclusion of the ceremony. Guess who it was ?” Kate’s face grew cold and proud. ‘‘ How should IY know? My acquaintances are not numerous,” Mrs. Lafaye regarded her silently for a moment. ‘““If you won't guess, I must tell you. It was no other than Mr. Tom Rivers.” ‘‘ Well?” said Kate, with studied indifference. “Can’t you get up a spark of animation ?” said Mrs. Lafaye piteously. ‘‘I thought he was just a lovely young man. I cannot imagine how you ECOMCOOO CFaCO a ~ @ ”