there are hearts as
true, as strong, as tenacious, among women such as I am as among the
irreproachable, the really good. I have no real right to complain; only
it is _so_ hard to live on without hope or--" She stopped abruptly.

"Hope will come," said Katherine, gently; "and time will restore your
self-respect. I should be so glad to see you build up a new and better
life on the ruins of the past! I am sure there is independence and
repose before you, if you will but fold down this terrible page of your
life and never open it again."

"And can you endure to touch me--to be to me as you have been?" asked
Rachel, her voice broken and trembling.

Katherine's answer was to stretch out her hand and take that of her
_protegee_, which she held tenderly. "Let us never speak of this again,"
she said. "Bury your dead out of sight. All you have told me is sacred;
none shall ever know anything from me. Let us begin anew. I am certain
you are good and true; and how can one who has never known temptation
judge you?"

Rachel bent her head to kiss the fair firm hand which held hers; then
she wept silently, quietly, and said, softly, in an altered voice, "I
will do _whatever_ you bid me; and while you are so wonderfully good to
me I will not despair."

There was an expressive silence of a few moments. Then Katherine began
to draw on her gloves, and trying to steady her voice and speak in her
ordinary tone, said:

"Mr. Payne is going to make you known to a lady who may be of great use
to you in obtaining customers. I have not met her myself, but should you
receive a note from Mrs. Needham, pray go to her at once. There is no
reason why you should not make a great business yet. I should be quite
proud of it. Now I must leave you. Promise me to resist unhappy
thoughts. Try to regain strength, both mental and physical. Should you
see Mrs. Needham before I come again, pray ask quite two-thirds more for
making a dress than I paid, for both your work and your fit are
excellent."

With these practical words Katherine rose to depart. Rachel followed her
to the door, and timidly took her hand. "Do you understand," she said,
"all you have done for me? You have given me back my human heart,
instead of the iron vise that was pressing my soul to death. I will live
to be worthy of you, of your infinite pity."

Katherine had hardly recovered composure when she reached home. The sad
and shameful story to which she had listened had not arrest