The Man in Possession — page 287: what you’re looking at

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

282 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. ‘Tam glad of that. Now let me hear the story— though I would far rather talk about ourselves,” ‘““Qh,” she said graciously, ‘‘ there will be plenty of time to do that when we've made these two young and foolish creatures as happy as—we are.” ‘‘T am glad you are hopeful as well as complimen- tary. Am I to be honoured with an introduction to this charming Kate of yours ?” “Certainly. I'll take you there to-morrow if you like. It’s rather trusting of me, for she’s very lovely. And... I believe you admire tall women. Don’t you?” | ‘‘Yes,” he said, ‘‘I admire them. They set offa dress, a room, a landscape. Probably if I were five foot two or thereabouts I should fall in love with a giantess. ” | ‘‘Kate is splendidly tall,” said Mrs. Lafaye. ‘<I look a pigmy beside her.” ‘Then I shall not admire her,” hesaid. ‘‘ Because every feeling of that sort is at present absorbed by what you please to call—a pigmy.” ‘‘ That is very subtle flattery. Allow me to draw your attention to the fact that there are some cutlets at your elbow, and though you may not be conscious of an appetite—I am.” He laughed, and applied himself to assisting her to the dish in question, while she told him the story of the railway disaster. He was almost surprised at the eager way in which she had thrown herself into this matter. For his own part he did not believe in the possibility of playing Deus ex machina in love affairs. They COMicloe (Sri C(O)