The Man in Possession — page 311: what you’re looking at

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

306 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. They sat by the fire and talked to each other while Mrs. Lafaye entertained Sir Wilfred. Kate could not clearly remember all he said, but the impression of comfort and sympathy that his words left behind was strangely strong and reassuring. She reflected on it afterwards and told herself she wondered no longer at women who said they could only love a man who could “take care” of them.: She felt Colonel Lawrence was just such a man—reli- able, honest, brave, and full of that tenderness and reverence for women which is at once So rare and so attractive. Meanwhile, Sir Wilfred had allowed his anxiety respecting Kate to counterbalance his animosity towards Mrs. Lafaye, and taken her into his confi- dence respecting it. The little American listened with quite flattering attention to his observations. When he had finished she said in that abrupt, to-the-point manner which he so disliked, ‘‘Well, I'm glad some one has noticed the girl is killing herself as fast as she can.” “ Killing herself,” faltered Sir Wilfred. ‘“Exactly so. It may be very fine and very noble to be self-sacrificing, but I can’t help thinking it’s not healthy. If Nature had intended it, she’d have given us a different physique—iron and steel, instead of flesh and blood. That's about what it needs as a background.” ‘‘What do you mean?” faltered Sir Wilfred. ‘‘ Ain’t she happy, and—and all that?” ‘‘What a comprehensive question. I shall ask COMicloe (Sri C(O)