e loops of her tatting. "Katherine Liddell is an
uncommon sort of girl," she said, "but I like her. I have an idea that
she likes me better than any of the others did, yet there are not many
things on which we agree. She is a little flighty in some ways, but she
has some sense too, some notion of the value of money; she does not lose
her dead about dress, nor does she buy costly baubles at the jewellers'.
She, certainly wastes a good many pounds on books, when a three-guinea
subscription to Mudie's would answer the purpose quite as well. Then
she is honestly deeply grieved at the loss of her mother, but she does
not parade it, or nurse it either, and I think she has some opinion of
_my_ judgment. Still she is a little unsettled, and not quite happy."

"I think she deserves to be happy," observed Bertie, with an air of
conviction--"if any erring mortal can deserve anything."

"We seldom get our deserts, either way, _here_; indeed, this world is so
upside down I am inclined to believe there must be another to put it
straight."

"We have fortunately better proof than that," returned her brother,
gravely.

"I must say I feel very curious to know what Katherine's plan is; I am
terrible afraid there is a man in it."

"Nothing more probable;" and Bertie fell into a fit of thought. "You
know Mrs. Needham!" he asked suddenly.

"Well, I just know her."

"She is a most earnest, energetic woman, though we are not quite of one
mind on all subjects. She wants to secure Miss Liddell's assistance in
getting up a bazar for the Stray Children's Home. I shall bring her to
call on you."

"Don't!"--very emphatically. "I know more than enough people already,
and I don't want any well-dressed beggars added to the number."

"Well, I will not interfere; but that is of little consequence. If Mrs.
Needham wants to come, she'll come."

"I hate these fussy subscription-hunting women!" cried Miss Payne.

"She does _not_ hunt for subscriptions, nor does she take any special
interest in religious matters, but she approves of this particular
charity. She is an immensely busy woman, and writes in I don't know now
many newspapers."

"Newspapers! And are our opinions made up for us by rambling hussies of
_that_ description?"

Bertie burst out laughing. "If Mrs. Needham heard you!" he exclaimed.
"She considers herself 'the glass of fashion and the mould of form,' the
most successful and important woman in the world--the English world."

M