rried till the autumn, so--Oh dear! there is the second bell. Cis, run
away and tell Madeline to come and help your auntie to dress; and you
too, Charlie; you had better go too."

"He may stay and help me to unpack."

"Why did you not bring your maid, dear? It is just like you to leave her
behind; but we could have put her up; and you will miss her dreadfully."

"I do not think either of us has been so accustomed to the attentions of
a maid as not to be able to do without one," returned Katherine,
smiling.

"You know _I_ always had a maid in India," said Mrs. Ormonde, with an
air of superiority. "Don't be long over your toilet; Ormonde's cardinal
virtue is punctuality."

In spite of the hindrance of her nephew's help, Katherine managed to
reach the drawing-room before Lady Alice or the master of the house.
Mrs. Ormonde was talking to an elderly gentleman in clerical attire
beside the fireplace, and at some distance a tall, dignified-looking man
was reading a newspaper. Mrs. Ormonde was most becomingly dressed in
black satin, richly trimmed with lace and jet--a brilliant contrast to
Katherine, in thick dull silk and crape, her snowy neck looking all the
more softly white for its dark setting: the only relief to her general
blackness was the glinting light on her glossy, wavy, chestnut brown
hair.

"You have been very quick, dear," said the hostess. "I am going to send
you in to dinner," she added, in a low tone, "with Mr. Errington, our
neighbor. He is the head of the great house of Errington in Calcutta,
and the _fiance_, of Lady Alice; but Colonel Ormonde must take her in.
Mr. Errington!" raising her voice. The gentleman thus summoned laid down
his paper and came forward. "Let me introduce you to my sister, Miss
Liddell." Mr. Errington bowed, rather a stately bow, as he gazed with
surprised interest at the large soft eyes suddenly raised to his, then
quickly averted, the swift blush which swept over the speaking face
turned toward him, the indescribable shrinking of the graceful figure,
as if this stranger dreaded and would fain avoid him. It was but for a
moment; then she was herself again, and the door opening to admit Lady
Alice, Errington hastened to greet her with chivalrous respect, and
remained beside her chair until Colonel Ormonde entered with the butler,
who announced that dinner was ready.

CHAPTER XIV.

IN THE TOILS.

The drawing and dining rooms at Castleford were at opposite sides of a