The Man in Possession — page 298: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 293 and thin against the crimson cushions, her clasped hands fell idly down on the black folds of the dress she wore, and the firelight gleamed on the flashing diamonds of the betrothal ring which fitted the slender finger so loosely now. ‘‘It would be very foolish and very useless to cry,” she thought as she lay there. ‘‘ But if I were not so tired, I think I could do it.” The clock struck seven, she found herself counting the strokes, and wondering in some vague, dim way how it was that it seemed such a long time since seven that morning. She had been awake then, and : Suddenly she seemed to wake as from a long sleep or stupor, conscious only of overpowering weakness. Her forehead was wet and her hair clung damply about it. She tried to raise herself, and then sank feebly back. Some one was bending over her, speak- ing. At any other time she would have been sur- prised ; now it did not seem strange that she should be looking back to the anxious face and remembered eyes of Tom Rivers. ‘*Don't move,” he said, ‘‘ you must be very weak. I found you lying here in a dead faint.” She had no desire to move or speak for a moment. She could not even think clearly or ask herself how this young man had come here, and what could have been his reason. ‘*T took the liberty of asking your servant to bring you a glassof wine,” he continued hurriedly. ‘‘She tells me you have eaten nothing all day. How can COMicloe (Sri C(O)