east,
and the afternoons were cool and shady there; but of a chill evening at
the end of March it was cold and dim, and needed the glow of a good fire
to make it attractive.

Daylight still lingered to the sky, but was fast fading, and the dancing
light of a cheerful fire was a pleasant contrast to the gray shadows
without. The room was very nondescript; its furniture was of the spidery
fashion which ruled when the "first gentleman" held the reins; thin hard
sofas and scanty draperies were supplemented by Persian rugs and showy
cushions, while various specimens of doubtful china crowded the
mantel-piece and consoles. Mrs. Ormonde was quite innocent of original
taste, but was a quick, industrious imitator, while of comfortable
chairs she was a most competent judge.

Quite sure of finding Mrs. Ormonde, Lady Alice, and Miss
Brereton--another visitor--refreshing themselves after their out-door
exercise, and intending to announce the pleasant news of Errington's
return, Katherine exclaimed, "Lady Alice!" as she crossed the threshold,
then seeing no one, stopped.

"Lady Alice is not here," said a strong, harsh voice, and a tall figure
in a shooting-coat and gaiters rose from the depths of a large
arm-chair, the back of which was toward the door and stood before her.

Katherine was slightly startled, but guessed it was one of two guests
expected to arrive that day. She advanced, therefore, and said, "Mrs.
Ormonde is unusually late, but I am sure she will soon be here."

"Meantime tea is quite ready. It has stood twice the regulation five
minutes; and is there any just cause or impediment why it should not be
poured out?"

"Not that I am aware of," returned Katherine, taking off her hat and
smoothing back her hair, which showed golden tints in the fitful
fire-light.

The low tea-table was set before the fire, she drew a chair beside it
and removed the cozy from the teapot.

Recognizing De Burgh from Mrs. Ormonde's description, she felt that he
was even more at home at Castleford than herself, and she also came to
the conclusion that he knew who she was. She had been prepared by Mrs.
Ormonde's evident admiration to dislike De Burgh, having made up her
mind that he would prove an empty-headed, insolent grandee, whose
pretensions imposed upon her sister-in-law's somewhat slender
experience, and whose life was probably given up to physical enjoyment.
He had not, however, the aspect of a mere pleasure-seeker. His dark,
st