The Man in Possession — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

82 . THE MAN IN POSSESSION. ‘You will take some tea, Miss O’Brien?” ‘Thank you, yes,” said the girl somewhat un- steadily, as she took the proffered cup. She looked again at the clean-shaven, clear-cut face. The like- ness irritated and bewildered her. ‘‘]J_-haven’t you—I mean, haven’t we met some- where before, Mr. Rivers?” she stammered. He looked calmly at her, and seemed to give the subject due and careful consideration. ‘‘Really, I—I almost fancy we have,” he said at length. ‘‘ But, for the life of me, I can’t exactly recall. Ah, that cloak "—he broke off abruptly—‘‘ of course, now I know. It was at Euston. Don’t you remem- ber? When we were waiting for the Irish mail.” ‘‘So it was,” said Kate, apparently immensely relieved. ‘‘ And—are you staying here?” she asked somewhat anxiously. | ‘“‘I am,” he said gravely, ‘‘with my aunt.” He indicated the lady in the green dress, with the brogue. ‘‘The Aunt Judy I went to meet that morning,” he explained. ‘‘Oh,” said Kate. ‘‘ Yes, of course, you told me. How odd it seems that you should both be here.” ‘‘Oh, the world’s very small,” said the young fel- low genially, and keeping his mirthful eyes strenu- ously away from the beautiful puzzled girl’s face, that seemed hardly satisfied yet with his explanation. ‘‘Very small,” he added emphatically. ‘‘ Why, I shouldn't have been surprised if I had met you at the Great Pyramid, —or—or on the top of Lebanon— or—some place like that, after leaving you at Euston. COMicloe (Sri C(O)