The Man in Possession — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

74 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. ‘*Ah, now, and why should I be botherin’ your pretty head, Miss Kate, dear. Shure the trouble’s Over now, and you must jist be enjoyin’ yourself and thinking only how beautiful ye are, and of the fine gentlemen as will be wantin’ to marry ye, whin they sees you looking jist for all the wurrld like the god- dess Vanus herself, in your lovely, gowlden gown.” Kate laughed at Biddy’s ignorance of heathen mythology as conveyed by this speech, but she did not feel bound to correct her ideas on the subject of the Queen of Beauty’s usual attire, or more correctly speaking, want of attire. This mysterious young bailiff had troubled her thoughts a good deal, and she was quite unprepared for this last piece of news respecting him. Could he really have assisted her father out of his difficulty ? It seemed impossible, and yet, he might be acquaint- ed with some loan-office, or some private money- lender who was willing to ‘‘ accommodate” even the impecunious Cornelius O’Brien. ‘‘T must ask my fatherabout it,” she said to herself as she heard that tardy individual at last approaching. It was not, however, until they were settled in a second-class compartment of the London and South- Western Co.’s carriages, en roufefor Lady Jocelyn’s seat in Hampshire that an opportunity offered to ask that question. | The day was clear and frosty. The reign of King Fog was over, and Cornelius O’Brien was in one of those genial and almost child-like moods that dis- tinguished him when debts were staved off, and ease and luxury in prospect. COMicloe (Sri C(O)