et
for many a day.

When Mrs. Knapp opened the door she looked rather grave, but Katherine's
mind was so full of her encounter with Gilbert Payne that she did not
notice it, seeing which, Mrs. Knapp said, "I'm glad you have come in,
miss."

"Why?" with immediate apprehension. "Is my uncle ill?"

"He is not right, miss. I took him up his cup or tea and slice of dry
toast about five, and he was lying back, as he often does, asleep, as I
thought, in the chair. I says, 'Here's your tea, sir,' but he made no
answer, and I spoke again twice without making him hear; then I touched
his hand; it was stone cold; so I got water and dabbed his brow, when he
sat up all of a sudden, and swore at me for making him cold and damp
with my--I don't like to say the word--rags. Then he shivered and shook
like an aspen; but I made up the fire and popped a spoonful of brandy in
his tea--he never noticed. But he kept asking for you, miss. I think he
doesn't know he was bad."

Katherine hastened to her uncle, greatly distressed at having been
absent at the moment of need. In her eagerness she committed the mistake
of asking how he felt now, and received a tart reply. There was nothing
the matter with him, nothing unusual--only his old complaint, increasing
years and infirmity; still he was not to be treated like a helpless
baby.

Katherine felt her error, and turned the subject; then, returning to it,
begged him to see a doctor. This he refused sternly. Finally she had
recourse to an article on the revenue in the paper, which soothed him,
and she saw the old man totter off to bed with extreme uneasiness, yet
not daring even to suggest a night light, so irritable did he seem.

Before she slept she wrote a brief account of what had occurred to Mr.
Newton, and implored him to come and remonstrate with his client.

CHAPTER VII.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

Katherine Liddell had never spent so uneasy a night, save when her
mother had been ill. Her nerves were on the stretch, her ears painfully
watchful for the smallest sound. What if the desolate old man should
pass away, alone and unaided, in the darkness of night! The sense of
responsibility was almost too much for her. If she could have her mother
at her side she would fear nothing. She was up early, thankful to see
daylight, and eager for Mrs. Knapp's report of her uncle.

Generally the old man was afoot betimes, and despised the luxury of warm
water. This morning Mrs. Knapp