The Man in Possession — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

320 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. Croft! Good Heavens, I never dreamt there was anything between Kate and himself.” ‘‘Then you must have been remarkable short- sighted,” said Mrs. Lafaye, with a little contemptuous gesture. He drew a breath of relief. ‘‘She’s a very lucky girl,” he said. ‘‘ Why, that young fellow will be a millionaire—richer than Sir Wilfred, a great deal.” ‘‘That should be a salve to your wounded honour, and enable you to treat the matter with philosophy instead of indignation,” said Mrs. Lafaye. ‘‘ How did you know? Did Kate tell you?” asked Cornelius eagerly. ‘‘Yes, to both questions.” ‘‘But where is he—the young fellow, I mean?” ‘In America, at present. But no doubt he will speedily return if he hears that Kate is free.” Cornelius looked gloomy. He had been counting upon Kate's speedy marriage, and running up a very substantial edition of debts and liabilities on this foundation of hope. Would creditors wait, or would they believe in the new alliance? It seemed doubt- ful. ‘‘I wish,” he said, ‘‘ that Rivers had been more explicit, or that I had been taken into my daughter's confidence.” ‘‘T see very little use in either. What could Mr. Rivers do, when he knew she was engaged, but retire gracefully from the contest. And Kate—well, you ought to know her nature better than I do, if she has made up her mind to go through witha thing—why, she'll do it. I confess I admire her for being so reliable. Butit’s rather hard to force her into misery, COMICOOOKS.€O