The Man in Possession — page 308: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 303 if in mockery on the diamonds of her betrothal ring. ‘‘Good-bye, Kate,’ he said again. ‘‘May God bless you!” ° He saw her lips part, but no sound came. Then the door closed, and she fell with a shudder against the crimson cushions. Mrs. Lafaye alluded very slightly to Tom Rivers’s departure when she called next day. Her ‘‘dear litthe romance” had shown a fiendish obstinacy in opposing her well-meant efforts, and — everything had gone wrong with it. She could not blame Tom for his resolution, and she could not ask Kate to commit the meanness of breaking off her engagement, at least until Sir Wilfred was well and strong again. The change in the girl distressed her greatly, all the more so on account of her proud. silence as to its real cause. | Biddy had let out that Tom Rivers had made a farewell call, and the astute little woman had no doubt in her own mind that some explanation had taken place between them, but of its nature she was completely ignorant. She could only watch the pale face, with its look of haggard misery, and note how every day the beautiful figure grew more frail and thin, and plead with Kate to be careful of herself. But the girl did not care about or heed the change. It mattered little enough now whether she looked ill or well. The first few weeks following Tom’s absence were filled with self-torture. She went about her usual occupations, but to herself it seemed as if she lived and moved in a dream. Everything COMicloe SS (GO) i