as made a will--not a just one, in my opinion--and
it is extremely unlikely he will ever change it."

"That does not really affect me. Of course I should be very glad
if he chose to leave anything to my mother or myself, but I shall do
my best for him under any circumstances. Besides, I have a sort
of desire to make him speak to me and like me--perhaps it is vanity--quite
apart from a sense of duty. He is so like a frozen man!"

"Try, try by all means, my dear young lady."

"What I do not like is the hour or half hour after market. The
wolfish greed by which he clutches the change I bring back, the
glare in his eyes, the fierce eagerness with which he asks the price
of everything--he is not human at such times, and I almost fear
him."

"It is a dreadful picture, but perhaps the details may soften in
time."

"How shall I get money for all he wants?" asked Katherine,
anxiously.

"I shall impress upon Mr. Liddell the necessity of his case, and
even make out that the good things he requires cost more than they
do. I will beg him to allow me to supply the money during his indisposition
and enter it in his account. Here, I will give you five
pounds while we are alone."

"Thank you so much! You see I dare not get into debt. I will keep a
careful account of all expenditure, and ask him--my uncle, I mean--not
to give me any money, then there will be no confusion.

"Very well. I will go back to him now. He will be almost ready to come
in here. Write to me frequently. I shall try to look in to-morrow for a
few minutes."

Katherine stirred the fire, and placed a threadbare footstool before the
invalid's easy-chair, thanking Heaven in her heart for sending her such
an ally as the friendly lawyer.

Then Mr. Liddell appeared, leaning on Newton's arm, and not looking much
worse than usual, Katherine thought. He took no notice of her until she
put the footstool under his feet; then, wonderful to relate, he looked
down into her grave, kindly face and smiled, not bitterly or cynically,
but as if, on the whole, pleased to see her. He seemed a little
breathless, yet he soon began to speak to Newton as if in continuation
of their previous conversation--"And is Fergusson really a year younger
than I am?"

"Yes, quite a year, I should say, and he takes great care of himself. I
do not think he has really so good a constitution as you have, but he
takes everything that is strengthening--good wine, turtle soup, and I do
not know w