The Man in Possession — page 322: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 317 ‘T_T really don’t understand you, sir,” he said aloud. ‘‘ Do you wish to break off this engagement. Have you told my daughter so?” ‘‘T have,” said Sir Wilfred briefly. | ‘And after trifling with her feelings all this time——” ‘‘Oh now—stow all that, O’Brien. There’s been no trifling on my side—you know that well enough. The only part of the transaction that deserves to be called by that name is your part, the little ‘ obliga- tions,’ etc. . . . you know.” Cornelius reddened. He began to think the little Baronet was not quite such a fool after all. ‘‘They shall be repaid,” he said loftily. ‘‘ Every- one of them. You need have no uneasiness on that score.” ; ‘¢Of course not. I never had,” said Sir Wilfred. ‘‘You'll have another rich son-in-law to borrow from. I’m glad of that for Kates sake—not for his.” , ‘“Whatdo you mean,” demanded O’Brien. ‘‘Who —what other?” ‘‘Kate will tell you,” said the little Baronet. ‘*VYou'll have no need to find fault with her choice, unless a little is as indispensable as wealth.” ‘‘T’m quite in the dark as to what all this means,” answered Cornelius. ‘‘ You and Kate seem to have come to an understanding without consulting me in any way.” ‘*Well,” observed Sir Wilfred. ‘‘ You're rather fond of shelving responsibilities so you oughtn’t to complain. I’ve told you I've released Kate from her ECOMNCE OOO SS) (SO