The Man in Possession — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 279 ‘¢ We shall hear itsoon enough,” said Kate. ‘I’m afraid it can’t be very good.” They resumed their seats and indulged in desultory fragments of conversation, until Cornelius O’Brien appeared. His attire was a suitable compliment to the occasion, being of a chastened and half-mourn- ing description, where colour came into play merely in the shape of tie and gloves. | His pleasure at seeing Mrs. Lafaye was tempered by judicious remembrance of the melancholy business before him, and he promised to return as speedily as possible with news of the unfortunate baronet. To Kate O'Brien that hour of waiting was a miser- able and anxious time. When the cab-wheels were heard, and the latch-key in the door announced her father’s return, she turned so white that Mrs. Lafaye feared she was about to faint. | . Cornelius entered, alert and cheerfulasever. ‘‘It’s all right; you needn’t look so anxious, my dear,” he said, as he saw his daughter's pale face. ‘Only a fractured knee. The surgeons say he can be moved in two or three days, so we'll have him here, and you shall nurse him back to health again. Quite a charming episode in the monotony of courtship. Eh, Mrs. Lafaye ?” ‘I suppose it is,” said that lady reflectively. ‘‘Qne can enjoy anything if one rigorously applies oneself to doit. I should not consider sick-nursing a very charming background to courtship myself. But perhaps my tastes are eccentric.” The silent suffering of the girl’s face touched her deeply. After her father’s information she said no SS) (SO ECOMNCE OOO