The Man in Possession — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN POSSESSION. 47 take my property off my hands. What am I to do?” “TI don’t know,” said Kate wearily. ‘‘Have you any idea how long that man will remain down- Stairs?” ‘My dear, what an absurd question. Have Iany idea? Why, he will remain just as long as I am find- ing twenty pounds. And even if I paid it to-morrow, there will be some one else cropping up with another Claim. People somehow have always claims against me. Extremely ill-bred and unwise of them—if they only knew.” He laughed softly, as if the subject had an amus- ing side to it. ‘‘There ought to be a law,” he said presently, ‘‘a law granting to every man a sufficient income for his necessities—such necessities to be regulated accord- ing to position. Now look at me—I don’t want much, I like a well-fitting coat, a good dinner, a decent house to live in, and the means for indulging my artistic tastes. I have also a keen capacity for social enjoyment. Surely there is no harm in any of these things. Yet here Iam swamped in debts, hampered by want of money, and at the mercy of any wretched tradesman, whose ideas soar no higher than a trap of his own to carry himself and family to Hampstead Heath or Epping Forest. He wants me to provide him with the trap—I want him to provide me with my dinners. Surely a dinner is more necessary than atrap. If he would moderate his ambition and use his legs, faith, wed both benefit by the trans- action. Kate took the tea-cup from him and put it down. COMicloe (Sri C(O)