el as if I could not
come up to time again. It has been such a long, weary battle!" She
pressed her handkerchief to her eyes.

"I wish _I_ could give you rest, darling mother!" said Katherine, taking
her hand and fondling it. "I fear I have been too useless--too
thoughtless."

"You have done all you could, my child; one cannot expect much from
nineteen. But I wish--I wish I could think of any means of deliverance
from my present difficulty. A small sum would suffice. Where to find it
is the question. I counted too much on those unlucky manuscripts, and
now I do not know where to turn; I see a vista of debt." A sudden fit of
coughing interrupted her.

"You have taken cold, mother," cried Katherine. "I heard you coughing
this morning. I was sure you would suffer for sitting near the open
window in the study last night."

"It was so hot!" murmured Mrs. Liddell, lying back exhausted.

"Yes, but it was also frightfully damp. Tell me, mother, is there
anything we can sell?--anything--"

Mrs. Liddell interrupted her. "Nothing, dear. The few jewels I had
preserved went when I was trying to furnish this house. I fancied we
should do well in a house of our own, and I was so anxious to make a
home for my poor boy's widow!"

"When do you expect any more money?"

"Not for nearly two months, and then another quarter's rent will be
due."

"Mother," said Katherine, after a moment's silence, "would not my
father's brother, of whom I heard you speak, help you? It is dreadful to
ask, but he is so near a kinsman, and childless."

"It is useless to think of it. He and your father quarrelled about
money, and he is implacable. His only child, a son, opposed him, and he
drove him away. Poor fellow! he was killed in Australia."

"Why have hard-hearted wretches heaps of money, while kind, generous
souls like you never have a farthing?"

"That is a mystery of long standing," said Mrs. Liddell, with a faint
smile. "Katie, I cannot think or talk any more. I will go and lie down
in my own room. There neither Ada nor the children can disturb me. Oh,
my darling, how can I ever die in peace if I leave _you_ to do battle
with the bitter, bitter world unprovided for?" Her voice quivered, and
the hand she laid on her daughter's trembled.

"Do not fear for me, mother. I am tougher and more selfish than you are.
It is time I worked for you. How feverish you are! Come up to your own
room. You will see things differently when you have had a l