s advantages.
Then Katherine devoted herself to her mother, who had taken a chill. It
grieved her to see how the slightest indisposition preyed upon her
strength.

The period of waiting was terribly long and wearing. Had she, after all,
committed herself to an ever-gnawing loss of self-respect to enrich
another? Katherine asked herself this question more than once.

She had refrained from troubling Mr. Newton with fruitless questions or
impatient expressions, and her mother admired her forbearance. But in
truth Catherine hated to approach the subject of her possible
inheritance, though she never faltered in her purpose of keeping the
existence of her uncle's will a profound secret.

Mrs. Frederic Liddell returned from her visit to the friendly lawyer
rather sooner than Katherine expected.

The moment she entered the drawing-room, where the latter was dusting
the few china and other ornaments, her countenance evinced unusual
disturbance.

"I am sure," she began, in a very high key, "if I had known what I was
going to encounter, I should have stayed at home. There's no justice in
this world for the widow and the fatherless."

"I cannot believe that Mr. Newton could be rude or unkind!" exclaimed
Katherine, much startled.

"I do not say he was," returned Mrs. Fred, snappishly. "But either he is
a stupid old idiot, or he has been telling me abominable stories. I
don't--I can't believe them! Do you know he says he, they, all the old
rogues together, believe that wretched miser had destroyed his will and
died intestate, and that every penny will be yours; not a sou comes to
the widow and children of the nephew. It is preposterous. It is the most
monstrous injustice. If it is law, an act of Parliament ought to be
passed to--to do away with it. Fancy your having everything, and me, my
boys and myself, dependent on _you_!"--scornful emphasis on "you."

"Is this possible?" exclaimed Katherine, dropping her duster in dismay.
"I thought that the property would be divided between the boys and
myself."

"Why, that is only common-sense! If you _do_ get everything you will be
well rewarded for your three months' penal servitude. You knew what you
were about, though you _do_ despise rank and riches."

"But, Ada, I suppose my uncle would have destroyed his will whether I
had been there or not."

"No. Mr. Newton's idea is that he intended to make a new will, probably
leaving you a large sum, and so destroyed the old one. Mr.