n, when of age, settle some portion upon
them."

"I certainly will; but in the mean time--"

"In the mean time I will take care that you have a proper allowance."

"Thank you, dear Mr. Newton. Do get me something big enough to make us
all comfortable, and I can share with Ada--with Mrs. Frederic. I do so
want to take my mother abroad, and I could not leave Ada and the boys
unless they were well provided for."

"Make your mind easy; the court will allow you a handsome income. So you
must cheer up, in spite of the infliction of a large fortune," added Mr.
Newton, with unwonted jocularity.

"Both Katherine and myself are warmly grateful for your kind sympathy,"
said Mrs. Liddell, softly. Then, after a short pause, she asked, "Do you
know what became of Mr. Liddell's unfortunate wife?"

"She died eleven or twelve years ago. The family of--of the man she
lived with had the audacity to apply for money, on account of her
funeral, I think, and so I came to know she was dead. It was a sad
business. The poor woman had a wretched life, but I don't think she was
in any want."

"I only asked, because if she was in poverty--"

"Oh," interrupted the lawyer, "if she were alive, she would have her
share of the estate, as her marriage was never dissolved."

A short pause ensued, and then Newton asked if Miss Liddell would like
some money, as he would be happy to draw a check for any sum she
required. Then, indeed, Katherine felt that her days of difficulty were
over.

Mrs. Liddell and her daughter were in no hurry to leave their humble
home. In truth Katherine was more frightened than elated at the amount
of property she had inherited, and would have felt a little less guilty
had she only succeeded in obtaining a moderate competence.

A curious stunned feeling made her incapable of her usual activity for
the first few days, and averse even to plan for the future.

She kept her sister-in-law quiet by a handsome present of money
wherewith to buy a fresh outfit for herself and her boys. Finally she
roused up sufficiently to persuade Mrs. Liddell to see an eminent
physician, for she did not seem to gather strength as rapidly as her
daughter expected.

The great man, after a careful examination, said there was nothing very
wrong; the nervous system seemed to be a good deal exhausted, and the
bronchial attack of the previous year had left the lungs delicate, but
that with care she might live to old age.

He directed, howeve