ind yet," he said; "but as soon
as she is released I must get her into a new neighborhood and redeem her
sewing-machine. Then, if we can get her work and help her till she
begins to earn a little, she may get on."

"Pray let me help in this," said Katherine, earnestly. "I live quite a
selfish life, and I should be thankful if you will let me furnish what
money you require."

"That I shall with great thankfulness. But, Miss Liddell, if you are
anxious to find interesting work, why not come and see our Children's
Refuge and the schools connected with it? Then there is an association
for advancing small sums to workmen in time of sickness, or to redeem
their tools, which is affiliated to a ladies' visiting club, the members
of which make themselves acquainted personally with the men and their
families."

"I shall be most delighted to go with you to both, but I do not think I
could do any good myself. I am so reluctant to preach to poor people,
who have so much more experience, so much more real knowledge of life,
than I have, merely because they _are_ poor."

"I do not want you to do so, but I think personal contact with the
people you relieve is good both for those benefited and their
benefactor."

"I suppose it is; and those poor old people who cannot read or are
blind, I am quite willing to read to them if they like it."

"I can find plenty for you to do, Miss Liddell," Bertie was beginning
when his sister broke in with:

"This is quite too bad, Bertie. You know I will not have you dragging my
young friends to catch all sorts of disorders in the slums. You must be
content with Miss Liddell's money."

"Miss Payne, I really do wish to see something of the work on which your
brother is engaged, and--forgive me if I seem obstinate--I am resolved
to help him if I can."

The result of the conversation was that the greater portion of the
contents of Miss Liddell's purse was transferred to Bertie's, and he
left them in high spirits, having arranged to call for Katherine the
next day in order to escort her to the Children's Refuge and some other
institutions in which he took an interest.

From this time for several weeks Katherine was greatly occupied in the
benevolent undertakings of her new friend. The endless need, the
degradations of extreme poverty, the hopeless condition of such masses
of her fellow-creatures, depressed her beyond description. She would
gladly have given to her uttermost farthing, but it would