ery glad to see _you_, Ada! How well you are looking--even
younger and fairer than you used!"

"Yes, I am uncommonly well; and you, dear, you are looking pale and ill
and older! You will forgive me, but I am quite distressed. You must come
down to Castleford at once."

"Thank you. Where are the boys? I hoped you would bring them."

"Oh, Colonel Ormonde thought they would be too troublesome for me in a
hotel, so I left them behind. They were awfully disappointed, poor
dears; but it is better _you_ should come down and see them. Cecil is
going to school after Easter, and I believe Charlie must go soon."

"I long to see them," said Katherine, assisting her visitor to take off
her cloak.

"And _I_ long to show you my new little boy," cried Mrs. Ormonde,
drawing a chair to the fire, and putting her small, daintily shod feet
on the fender. "He is a splendid child, amazingly forward for six
months."

"I am glad you are so happy, Ada; I shall be pleased to make the
acquaintance of my new nephew. I suppose I may consider him a sort of
nephew?"

"My dear, of _course_! Colonel Ormonde, as well as myself, is proud to
consider you his aunt. Yes, I am very happy--though Ormonde _is_ rather
provoking sometimes; still, he is not half bad, and I know how to manage
him. You are _such_ a favorite with my husband, Katie. He admires you so
much, I sometimes threaten to be jealous--why, what is the matter,
dear?"

Katherine had suddenly covered her face with her handkerchief and burst
into tears.

"Do not mind me, Ada!" she said, when she could speak. "It was just that
name; no one has called me Katie except my mother and you, and the idea
that I should never hear her speak again overpowered me for a moment."

Mrs. Ormonde was puzzled. Not knowing what to do in face of a great
grief, she took out her own pocket-handkerchief politely.

"Of course, dear," she said; "it is quite natural. I was awfully cut up
when I heard of your sad loss--and mine too, for I am sure Mrs. Liddell
loved me like her own child; it was quite wonderful for a mother-in-law.
I was afraid to speak to you about her, but I am sure she would like you
to live with us; it is your natural home. And--and she would, I am sure,
be pleased if she can know what is going on here below, to see that you
fulfilled your kind intentions to her poor little grandsons." These last
words with some hesitation.

Katherine kept silence, and still held her handkerchief to her eye